Halifax throw away two-goal lead as McGrath admits ‘worst I’ve felt’
Wednesday 28 October 2026 · By Paul Waddington
FC Halifax Town threw away a two-goal lead at the Shay on Tuesday night, losing 3–2 to Barrow after conceding three times in 17 minutes.
Tollitt gave the home side the lead in the 29th minute and doubled it in the 61st. Halifax looked in control until S. Thompson pulled one back for Barrow in the 74th minute. Cameron equalised in the 81st and scored the winner in the 90+2nd minute.
There was late drama. A Barrow goal was ruled out for offside in the 84th minute, and Halifax’s Conte was sent off in the 89th minute for a second yellow card. The length of any suspension for Conte has not been confirmed. Barrow’s Alimi-Adetoro went off at about the 26-minute mark after a clash of heads. The spelling of some names differs between the clubs’ reports, so this account follows the BBC.
Manager John McGrath spoke to the Halifax Courier afterwards. He said it was the “worst I’ve felt after a defeat this season” and said all three Barrow goals “should have been prevented”. The Courier’s headline had him saying he was “bitterly disappointed”.
The Courier described the defeat as ending a six-game unbeaten run. The BBC’s form guide shows four league games, so that figure has not been used here.
Halifax are ninth on 21 points from 15 games, with six wins, three draws and six defeats. They have scored 26 goals and conceded 20, for a goal difference of +6. They are five points behind seventh-placed AFC Fylde, the last of the play-off places. Only the champions are promoted automatically, with the clubs from second to seventh going into the play-offs.
They are level on points with Kidderminster Harriers and Hornchurch, so the table has a crowded look. Barrow, who now have 24 points from 14 games, are three points ahead of Halifax.
Goalkeeper Sam Johnson joined Solihull Moors on loan on 23 October. McGrath told the Courier on 25 October: “If I had my way, I would have kept Sam in house.”
The next game is at home to Yeovil Town on Saturday 31 October, with an early kick-off of 12.30pm GMT. Yeovil won 2–1 at Hornchurch on Tuesday and are fourth on 28 points, so it will be a stern test.
Then comes the FA Cup. Halifax travel to Cheltenham in the first round on Saturday 7 November, with kick-off at 3pm GMT.
The 3–2 defeat was a hard one to take. Leading by two goals at home and then losing is the kind of result that tests a dressing room, and McGrath’s honesty afterwards showed how much it hurt.
The task now is to bounce back at the first opportunity, with Yeovil visiting on Saturday lunchtime.
The Shay sits on the south side of Halifax, a short walk from the town centre and about five to ten minutes from Halifax railway station. Home of FC Halifax Town — the Shaymen — and shared with rugby league side Halifax Panthers, it is a proper dual-use Yorkshire ground: part modern stand, part terrace, part historic relic. Official capacity is 10,401, with just over 5,000 seats and a similar number of safe-standing places on the North and South ends. Visiting supporters usually find it compact, a little quirky, and easy to navigate once you know which side of the hill you are on.
Address for most purposes is The Shay Stadium, Shaw Hill, Halifax, HX1 2YS. Sat-nav users often do better with HX1 2YT. By car, leave the M62 at junction 24 and follow the A629 towards Halifax; the ground sits off Skircoat Road / Shaw Hill. Street parking nearby fills quickly on Saturdays, so allow extra time or use town-centre car parks and walk in. From the station, leave the car park, turn left, and the ground appears on your right within half a mile. Turnstiles typically open an hour before kick-off. Buy in advance where you can; matchday prices often rise by a couple of pounds on the gate.
Away allocation changes with the size of the travelling support. The usual football home for visitors is the Skircoat Stand on the west side, along Skircoat Road: covered seating, a good racket when full, but several roof supports that can spoil the view if you sit behind a pillar. It is the oldest part of the ground — a section of roof came from Manchester City’s old Hyde Road in the 1920s — and it does not run the full length of the touchline. For smaller away followings you may instead be placed in a section of the East Stand. For bigger games the North Stand terrace behind the goal can be opened exclusively for away fans. Always check your club’s allocation before you travel; do not assume you will be behind a goal.
The East Stand is the main stand: a single-tier all-seater opened in 2010, holding around 3,500–4,000, with hospitality boxes, bars, food points and function rooms underneath. Views are generally unobstructed. Opposite, the Skircoat side feels older and tighter. Behind the southern goal is the South Stand, a covered terrace used by home supporters and the Spring Hall end. The South Stand Bar on the concourse (capacity about 200) is the social heart of that end and is often open to all fans when segregation allows. The North Stand, a 1990s terrace built so the old club could regain League status, has frequently stood unused for football in recent seasons, though rugby fixtures use it more often.
Food and drink inside are typical lower-league fare: pies, burgers, hot dogs and chips from kiosks, plus the South Stand Bar if you have access. Town-centre pubs are a short walk if you prefer a pint before the turnstiles. The pitch is a hybrid surface used for both football and rugby; floodlights are the traditional pylon type. Atmosphere is honest rather than manufactured — Halifax crowds are not huge by Football League standards, but the bowl-like setting on the hillside can carry a song well when both sets of fans are in voice.
Practical notes for visitors: keep an eye on which stand your ticket specifies, because entrances differ — East Stand turnstiles on the main side, South Stand turnstiles at that end, and West/Skircoat access has historically been via the north-west corner. Cash and card arrangements vary by fixture, so carry a little cash as backup. Under-16 and concession prices are usually available; juniors may be matchday-only. The club and council share the site, so signage can mention conferences and rugby as well as the Shaymen. If you have time after the game, Halifax Piece Hall is a short stroll into town and makes a better landmark than most Saturday away days. Check fchalifaxtown.com for the latest prices and allocation before you set off.