Returning centre-back Matt Elsdon believes a lack of concentration at the death is what cost Barrow AFC in their 2-1 defeat against FC Halifax Town in the FA Trophy last Saturday.

Elsdon made his first appearance for the Bluebirds in over four months against the Shaymen, whom he injured his knee against in the first place, in the National League fixture between the two in August.

Once again, AFC were left cursing their luck after they were knocked out at the first-round stage at Holker Street despite dominating the second half and putting Halifax’s goal under siege after equalising.

Just when it looked a late winner for the hosts was inevitable, they were stunned on the counter attack as Ben Tomlinson deflected in Jonathan Edwards’ effort in the 88th minute.

Elsdon said: “I thought in the second half we absolutely battered them.

“We were on top the whole half then it was just a lack of concentration, really, in the last couple of minutes of the game that has given them the win, but I thought overall that the lads put in a really good performance.

“It was a nightmare, really, because it was just a ball down the line and their lad’s cut inside and it’s just hit the striker and gone in. It was just one of those things.”

Tomlinson’s goal wasn’t the only piece of bad luck Barrow suffered during the tie, as they had already struck the woodwork four times, Lee Molyneux’s sumptuous chip over ‘keeper Sam Johnson, in particular, deserving of more.

“It’s hard to watch, especially from the back as well,” Elsdon said.

“We’ve hit the post Lord knows how many times and we were on top for the whole of the second half.

“Even in the first half, I thought we played the conditions really well and we were just unlucky not to come away with the win.”

Even as a lad from the North East, the 21-year-old from Durham was left feeling the chill last weekend, along with everyone else inside the ground, with the conditions being a triple whammy of freezing temperatures, driving rain and a howling gale.

Elsdon said: “Honestly, they were the worst conditions I’ve ever played in.

“It was an absolute nightmare playing in that, but it’s just one of those things and you’ve got to deal with it.”