Pools conjure up a winning final flourish
HARTLEPOOL 3 DOVER 2
HARTLEPOOL completed a stunning, late comeback from two goals down to claim a win which saw them climb into the top half of the National League table.
Sunderland loan man Luke Molyneux was Hartlepool’s hero as he popped up with a 91st-minute winner against Dover Athletic.
The home side had fallen two goals down early on as first Alfie Pavey, then Jai Reason produced goal of the season contenders to ease Dover into what looked like an unassailable lead.
But the introduction of Molyneux on 43 minutes turned the tide as he first won a penalty, which Josh Hawkes dispatched, then netted the winner in added time, following on from Hawkes’ second goal from 12 yards.
And manager Craig Hignett was delighted to see his side put in another spirited show from behind, having rescued a National League point from two goals down at Sutton United seven days previously.
But he does hope his players learn their lesson – as he doesn’t want to keep giving his fifth-tier opponents a two-goal head start every week.
“It was just like last week – we can’t expect to keep giving teams a two-goal head start and get points. But we have done, again,” said Hignett, whose side have lost just once since he took charge full-time.
“For a 50-minute spell we did not look like we knew what we were doing. We were flat and that was a real surprise to me after last week.
“We changed it when we went two down, brought Luke Molyneux on and we were unrecognisable second half.
“I thought we were worthy of three points.
“The players really drew on the experience of last week. I said to the players then that if we got one back the opposition would cave. I knew the same would happen this week. We put the pressure on and they wobbled when we got a goal.
“They panicked and we took advantage.”
Hignett made just the one change the side who worked wonders down in Surrey last weekend as former Newcastle United man David Edgar – famous for a wonder strike against Manchester United – came into the side for injured Aaron Cunningham.
And having played his football over in Canada for the last few years, he was given a real North East welcome as wind and rain made conditions difficult for both sides. It was Dover, though, who adapted quicker to the inclement weather and they raced into a two-goal lead within nine first-half minutes.
While the Pools defenders wanted an offside flag, striker Pavey took no notice, instead turning to loop a ball into the far corner for 1-0.
Scott Loach had no chance with the first, and he had even less with the second as this time Reason, a constant thorn in the host’s side, cracked in from 25 yards for 2-0.
Off the pace and two goals down, Pools looked dead and buried, but this side has proven they’re made of sterner stuff and started to mount the comeback on 69 minutes when Molyneux drew a handball in the area and Hawkes stepped up to net number six of the season.
He had number seven on a plate soon after when Luke James was this time felled in the 18-yard box. The youngster showed no emotion as coolly slotted in for 2-2.
And just as the game looked to be heading for a draw Hawkes and Molyneux combined to score a third at the death as Pools climbed three places in the fifth tier, although their push for the promotion play-offs under Hignett looks to have come a little too late. Hartlepool: Loach, Kerr, Edgar (Amos 76), Anderson, Donaldson, Featherstone, Noble (Hawkins 90), Kitching (Molyneux 43), Hawkes, Kabamba, James. Not used: Catterick, Muir.