Chris Wilder, his players, and in the region of 100 Halifax Town supporters will head North this evening still wondering how The Shaymen lost this game 3 v 1 to Torquay United.
They were undone by 3 set pieces and The Gulls have now scored 15 of their 21 goals this season from deal ball positions.
Town lost Andy Campbell to injury meaning a recall for Darryn Stamp with Adam Quinn returning at the back and The Shaymen lined up in a 4-4-2 formation.
Lewis Killeen had the first shot of the game in the 5th minute when he cut in from the left but his effort hit Stamp and went wide.Moments later Stamp almost stole in at the near post when Jon Shaw crossed from the left.Cortez Belle headed Tom Kearney's corner over as Town dominated the opening stages.
Tony Bedeau created the home side's first chance in the 21st minute when his cross deflected off Jake Wright into Tim Sills's path but Craig Mawson somehow made a point blank save and was alert enough to smother the rebound.Quinn cleared as Sills look to pounce from a free kick and left winger Chris Zebroski shot across Mawson but wild of the post when he evaded Ryan Toulson's challenge.
A number of corners for The Shaymen failed to produce a goal as Referee Gibbs went card crazy cautioning Zebroski, Stamp and Anthony Griffith in a 5 minute spell.
Danny Forrest's mazy run and shot saw home keeper Simon Rayner tip the ball over the bar and the teams headed for the dressing rooms with the game scoreless.
The Shaymen forced the pace at the start of the second half with a couple of corners and it came as a surprise when Torquay took the lead in the 49th minute.A left wing corner was hit to the back post where Chris Robertson powered home a far post header.
Jake Wright's free kick was palmed away by Rayner and the resulting corner was cleared with Belle ready to pounce.Jon Shaw shot straight at Rayner and it wasn't long before Town were level.
Griffith, Killeen and Forrest linked to find Shaw in the area and he was felled but dusted himself down and coolly beat Rayner and The Shaymen were level.
And they didn't rest on their laurels and went in search of a 2nd goal.Forrest and Killeen went close, the latter firing over from 15 yards when well placed. Daryl Taylor replaced Stamp forcing Forrest into the middle and the substitute almost made his mark immediately but his goal bound shot was deflected over the bar.Killeen's cross evaded the Strikers as Town continued to press.
Cortez Belle received a yellow card for a challenge on the right and Tim Sills header home the free kick and astonishingly Torquay had the lead.And the scoring took an even more flattering look minutes from time when Matt Hockley fired home when Town failed to clear a corner.
So the long journey home commences with everyone with a blue and white bias still wondering why a deserved point is not heading home with The Shaymen.
Chris Wilder will be hoping for better fortunes when his side take on Northwich Victoria at The Shay on Tuesday evening, kick off 7.45pm
