FC Halifax Town 2 Bristol Rovers 2: Aspin so proud as leaders stunned
Halifax raced into a 2-0 half-time lead but succumbed to a late fightback by Rovers, who are now joint-top with Barnet.
The Halifax chief said: “We gave it a good effort, I’m really pleased with the players’ effort and commitment. I thought they did me proud as manager.
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Hide Ad“Obviously when you’ve got a 2-0 lead and they (Bristol Rovers) score late goals you’re disappointed but I’d like to take more positives from the game than negatives.”
Lois Maynard directed a super header past Steve Mildenhall from James Bolton’s cross to hand the hosts the lead.
Marc Roberts doubled the lead when he converted Paul Marshall’s dinked free-kick past the on-rushing Mildenhall.
Rovers improved after the break but halved the deficit with six minutes remaining when Lee Brown’s vicious low shot from 20 yards zipped through.
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Hide AdSubstitute Ellis Harrison then produced a stunning equaliser as he controlled the ball with his left before smashing past Matt Glennon with his right.
AFC Halifax Town: Glennon, Bolton, Hutchison, M Roberts, McManus, Smith (Hillhouse 62), Maynard, Pearson, Marshall, Jackson (Boden 84), Peniket. Unused substitutes: Senior, Williams, K Roberts.
Bristol Rovers: Mildenhall, Leadbitter, Lockyer (Easter 65), McChrystal, Brown, Mansell, Clarke (Harrison 53), Parkes, Lines, Monkhouse, Taylor (Balanta 76). Unused substitutes: Puddy, Dawson.
Referee: D England (South Yorkshire).
Man of the match: Matt Pearson.