KIERNAN’S LATE SHOW COMPLETES COMEBACK
A REMARKABLE late comeback from Harrogate Town knocked stunned Hartlepool out of the FA Trophy.
First half Pools goals from Tyler Hamilton and Ryan Donaldson were cancelled out by a Peter Kioso own goal, Connor Hall and a 93rd minute winner by Brendan Kiernan.
Delighted Town boss Simon Weaver said: “Second half we started to set our stall out from the start and we were much more patient in possession and created a few chances to score.
“A couple of the goals weren’t particularly pretty but it really doesn’t matter in cup football.”
Hartlepool started the better of the two sides, opening the scoring in the tenth minute and putting the home side under a substantial amount of pressure.
However, Hartlepool manager Dave Challinor was disappointed with how his side crumbled late on.
“The lads were pointing their fingers at different people and there needs to be a mentality change,” he said. “Unfortunately, that might not happen without a personnel change but that can’t happen overnight.
“We’ve tried to coast through the game in the second half and I’m not going to stand here and get any positives from this game because there’s nothing to take from it.”
Mark Kitching’s cross in the tenth minute set up the first goal. His delivery made it all the way through the box to the unmarked Hamilton, who fired past Joe Cracknell to give the visitors the lead. Harrogate
had the opportunity to level the score in the 39th minute when Kiernan was brought down inside the box. However, Jon Stead’s effort from the spot was saved by Dimi Konstantopolous, who dived low to his right.
Hartlepool doubled their lead in added time from a clinical counter attack. Josh Hawkes ran with the ball and played Donaldson in on goal. Cracknell managed to get a touch on Donaldson’s attempt but it wasn’t enough to stop the ball rolling into the back of the net.
It took until the 77th minute for Harrogate’s comeback to begin and it came in the form of an own goal. Mitch Hancox played a dangerous ball across the box and, in an attempt to clear, Kioso sliced the ball into his own net.
Weaver’s men continued to push forward and got a deserved equaliser in the 86th minute. The ball dropped kindly for Hall following a corner and he gleefully smashed home.
It looked like the game would go to extratime but great pressure from Jack Emmett and Kiernan forced Konstantopolous to fumble, leaving Kiernan to tap into an empty net.