Halifax lose two-goal lead as Barrow fight back to win 3-2 at The Shay

The result ends Halifax's unbeaten run and is only their second home league defeat of the season, but was not on the cards when Ben Tollitt rifled in his second of the game after an hour.

But Barrow scored three goals in the last 15 minutes through substitutes Seb Thompson and, twice, from Innes Cameron.

Town looked a little nervy and hesitant at the back early on, with Barrow quicker to settle without really causing too many problems.

Both teams were better off the ball than on it, but The Shaymen worked their way into the game and produced a classic counter-attack 15 minutes in when a great pass by Cruz Allen found Connor Douglas, whose cross was met on the stretch by Conor Carty, but Ben Winterbottom parried his first time shot behind.

Barrow never looked likely to produce that kind of fast, free-flowing football that Town seem to always have in their locker, and that opened the scoring.

Carty did brilliantly to pounce on a loose ball and then show superb composure to find Tollitt to his left, who likewise kept his head to side-step a Barrow challenge and then bury a finish low into the net.

It was a game of moments rather than engrossing football, but intense nonetheless, and Town were standing up to Barrow's physicality. giving as good as they got.

The visitors went close through substitute Danny Amos and ex-Town loanee Arian Allen before Tollitt cleared an overhead kick off the line at a corner.

A triple change at half-time showed what Barrow boss Adam Murray had thought, and his team got on top having switched to three at the back.

Sub Zak Gilsenan went close with his first touch, firing over from Tollitt's cross, but Town were largely playing on the counter, with Barrow upping their levels since the break.

But again Halifax showed the quality in the final third that Barrow lacked when a fantastic pass by Cody Johnson picked out Tollitt in space on the left and after a magnificent first touch, he cut inside before smashing the ball into the corner right-footed.

Town were relishing the battle now, upping their levels after their second goal, with Gilsenan showing brilliant skill before his shot was turned behind.

There was a hunger and desire about Halifax that Barrow had lost since the second goal.

Out of nothing, substitute Thompson produced a stunning strike from range to get Barrow back into a game that had started to look beyond them.

And one of those half-time changes by Murray drew Barrow level when Cameron turned in a cross from the left with a first-time finish.

A remarkable turnaround was nearly completed but for True Grant, who kept out Mikey Lane's effort at full stretch then showed excellent reactions to save a header at close range.

If it wasn't engrossing before, it was now.

Both teams might have won it before Barrow did, with Raheem Conte sent-off for a second booking moments before Cameron rose highest to head in a cross from the right.

Halifax: Grant, Crowe (Hill 56), Flint, Hobson, Conte, C Johnson, Trusty (Hugill 80), Douglas, Allen (Gilsenan 56), Tollitt (McDermott 90), Carty (Morgan-Smith 80). Subs not used: Mather, Maltby.

Scorer: Tollitt (29, 61)

Attempts on target: 7

Attempts off target: 5

Corners: 3

Barrow: Winterbottom, Oakley, Edwards, Adetoro (Amos 26), Latty-Fairweather, Harper, Marriott (Ward 46), Allen (Lane 46), Walker (Thompson 62), Benjamin, Reid (Cameron 46). Subs not used: Kouyate, Mooney.

Scorers: Thompson (74), Cameron (81, 90+2)

Attempts on target: 7

Attempts off target: 7

Corners: 7

Referee: Michael Barlow

Attendance: 1,375 (365 away)

Town man of the match: Has to be Ben Tollitt for his two goals, which he took superbly.