Gary keeps his head to earn point for Pools
TWO well-matched sides shared the points but Hartlepool were indebted to a sensational goal-line clearance by Gary Liddle to deny David Ajiboye what would have been a winner with virtually the last kick.
Sutton manager Matt Gray was frustrated afterwards, saying: “It would have been lovely to have been coming in with that last minute winner, as I thought towards the end we looked the likelier side to score.
“It was a good advert for the National League and I thought we were excellent in the first half before Hartlepool came back after the break.”
Sutton had the better of the first half and took an early lead thanks to the persistence of Isaac Olaofe who closed down goalkeeper Ben Killip and was rewarded as the keeper’s clearance rebounded off him into the roof of the net.
A superb run by Ajiboye soon afterwards ended with a shot which was well stopped by Killip, while Olaofe again showed his pace to reach a through ball but hit his shot wide of the near post.
At the other end Sutton keeper Nik Tzanev was untroubled mainly due to a fine defensive performance from Sutton with Ben Goodliffe twice blocking shots that could have threatened the keeper.
The second half saw Hartlepool start on the front foot and they were rewarded within seven minutes as they broke out following a Sutton corner and Luke Molyneux teed up Holohan, who celebrated signing a new contract by clipping a first time shot into the roof of the net.
It was a well balanced game after that but neither side was able to make the breakthrough for the decisive goal with both defences on top.
However, as the game entered the last five minutes it was Sutton who came closest to grabbing the points, firstly when Harry Beautyman stretched to meet Will Randall’s cross at the far post but saw the ball rebound back off the woodwork and then, deep into stoppage time, Ajiboye found some space on the left of the penalty area and fired in a shot which beat Killip but was superbly headed over by the retreating Liddle.
Hartlepool have had a real upturn in form in recent weeks, which has put them in with a shout of gatecrashing the play-off places.
But Pools boss Dave Challinor – who guided AFC Fylde to the promotion final last season as well as FA Trophy glory – was also disappointed, saying: “II’m frustrated that after getting the equaliser we didn’t push forward more for the winner because at this stage of the season it’s really wins that you want.”