Shaymen beaten in seven-goal thriller but finish top of National League Cup group

The Shaymen fought back from 3-1 down to draw level, only to concede again deep into added timne.

But Scunthorpe's penalty shoot-out defeat to Wolves ensured Town finished top of group A and will be at home in the quater-finals.

How Town found themselves 2-1 down at half-time was a mystery, with The Shaymen dominating the game and creating far more chances.

Forest went ahead thanks to a calm finish from Shakur Samuels, who beat Deniche Hill to a through ball and finished past Grant one-on-one.

That was after Tayt Trusty had hit the top of the bar with a volley, and he then fired just wide after the goal.

Tommy McDermott curled a shot just off target after a lovely one-two with Will Hugill, and then Amari Morgan-Smith's effort was turned behind by Aaron Bott after great build-up play by McDermott.

It was strongly against the run of play that Forest doubled their lead when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by True Grant, with Fuad Smith scoring from the spot with a panenka.

McDermott was again wasteful in-front of goal firing over having taken a great touch to bring down Zak Gilsenan's cross.

It looked like being one of those nights until Bott flapped at a corner and Town got one back shortly before the break through an own goal.

Forest's two-goal margin was restored a few minutes after the break when a silly tackle by Deniche Hill gave away a penalty, which was powerfully converted by Jayden Powell.

The visitors had hit the inside of the post moments before that, and had a shot crash off the underside of the bar after it as the game threatened to get out of Halifax's reach.

Lucas Houghton brought a good save from Bott with a shot on the turn ten yards out, but Morgan-Smith failed to even hit the target with a header from Owen Bray's excellent cross.

It hadn't been as fluent from Town since the restart, but they again found a way back into it when Gilsenan's corner went straight in, looping over the keeper to the far post.

The pressure was building on the young away side, and Town finally got back level when Morgan-Smith bundled in the rebound after a cross from the right was parried by Bott into his path.

Debutant Luke Brooks then had the chance to be the hero but took too long to shoot when he was clean through on goal in added time.

But it was Forest who won it with the last kick of the game when they pounced on Town dallying in possession, with a cross from the right turned in by substitute Kanye Bradshaw.

Halifax: Grant, Crowe, Houghton, Maltby (Flint 83), Hill (Conte 53), Hugill, Trusty, Bray (Brooks 83), Gilsenan, McDermott (Kawa 53), Morgan-Smith. Subs not used: Mathers, Wainman.

Scorers: own goal (43), Gilsenan (67), Morgan-Smith (76)

Attempts on target: 10

Attempts off target: 10

Corners: 11

Nottm Forest: Bott, Sinclair (Clarke 66), Newton, Whitehall, Modupe (Broomes 80), Sutton (Sanneh 66, Nwosu 90)), McClure, Samuels (Bradshaw 76), Thompson, Powell, Smith (Robinson 76). Subs not used: Murray-Jones..

Scorers: Samuels (10), Smith (30 pen), Powell (51 pen), Bradshaw (90+8)

Attempts on target: 4

Attempts off target: 5

Corners: 1

Attendance: 236

Referee: Stuart Morland

Town man of the match: I'll go for Owen Bray, who really impressed on a rare start for him.