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.

“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.

Substitute 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.