HALIFAX TOWN blew their chances of promotion to the EFL with an bizarre “own goal for the ages.”
The National League outfit, who finished seventh this season, were playing at Solihull Moors in last night’s play-off clash for a spot in League Two.
Halifax were due to play fourth-place Barnet instead.
But they were given a bye to the semis after Gateshead, originally scheduled to face Solihull, were BARRED after failing to extend the lease on their stadium for another decade.
And Halifax will be wishing they had faced Barnet after all as they lost 4-2 to Solihull.
The visitors were 1-0 down after just 14 minutes and conceded a second moments later.
But it was game, set, match in the 38th minute when Tylor Holden scored a comical own goal.
As the ball bounced into his penalty area, Holden stuck a leg out behind him to prevent a Solihull opponent from getting to it first.
However, he ended up changing the course of the ball entirely as it made contact with the inside of his ankle.
Unfortunately for Holden, the ball went back across his own goal and into his net.
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And he could only watch in disbelief as Solihull celebrated going three up in the unlikeliest of manners.
Fans certainly found the error amusing.
One said: “Own goal for the ages this.”
Another declared: “Gone from bad to worse.”
One joked: “Lovely goal.”
Another added: “One of the worst own goals I’ve ever seen.”
One noted: “Need a replay, funniest OG I’ve seen.”
Despite the setback, Halifax managed to rally and pulled back a goal on the stroke of half-time.
They then left Solihull sweating as they pulled back a second with 15 minutes remaining.
But the hosts ensured they would be the ones to progress to the semis as they made it 4-2 in the dying moments.
It means Solihull will take on Barnet in the semis.
And they also have an FA Trophy final to look forward to next month against Gateshead.
As for Halifax, they will remain in the National League after winning promotion fro the Conference North in 2013.
By Dave Kidd
WHEN Manchester United got lucky in their FA Cup semi-final, Antony’s first instinct was to goad heartbroken opponents Coventry. To rub their noses in the dirt.
Antony seems to be a vile individual but this isn’t really about Antony. Because Antony is merely a symptom of the hideous sickness within England’s top flight.
There is so much wrong.
After our elite clubs persuaded the FA to completely scrap Cup replays — which gave us Ronnie Radford and Ricky Villa and Ryan Giggs — without due recompense or reasoning with the rest of English football.
The previous day, after his Manchester City side had defeated Chelsea in the other FA Cup semi-final, Pep Guardiola whinged about the fixture scheduling of TV companies who effectively pay much of his £20m salary.
Up at Wolves, Guardiola’s friend and rival Mikel Arteta was playing the same sad song about fixture congestion, despite his Arsenal side having played two fewer games this season than Coventry — who don’t have £50m squad players to rotate with.
Chelsea, oh Chelsea. The one-time plaything of a Russian oligarch now owned by financially incontinent venture capitalists who have piddled £1billion on a squad of players who fight like weasels in a sack about who should bask in the personal glory of scoring the penalty that puts them 5-0 up against Everton.
