FA Cup
Salford City
Dec 4, 2015 7.55pm
1
1
HT : 1 1
FT
Hartlepool
  • Stephen O'Halloran 23' goal
  • Andy Dawson 69' yellowcard
  • goal Rhys Oates 8'
  • yellowcard Jake Carroll 88'

Live Commentary: Salford City 1-1 Hartlepool United - as it happened

By | , Last updated:

Salford City 1-1 Hartlepool - as it happened
© Getty Images

Salford City have continued their impressive FA Cup run by playing out a 1-1 draw with Hartlepool United in the second round.

It was the League Two side who took the lead early in the second-round tie when Rhys Oates fired home a penalty after being brought down inside the box.

The hosts hit back impressively to get back on level terms when Stephen O'Halloran fired home from close range as Salford ensured they would be in the hat for the third-round draw.

Read below to find out how Salford earned a replay.

9.48pmThere could have been more magic, but it was what we expect from the FA Cup as the minnow performed impressively to make life difficult for Hartlepool. That's all from our live text coverage tonight. Goodbye everyone.

9.47pmHats off to Salford City. Despite the difference between the two sides, the hosts were certainly worthy of this draw tonight and they will be in Monday's draw ahead of the replay with Hartlepool, who will be expecting a better performance in front of their supporters.

9.45pmFULL TIME: SALFORD CITY 1-1 HARTLEPOOL UNITED

90+2 minO'Halloran is furious with Duckworth, and I can't blame him. The Hartlepool full-back attempts to win a penalty by throwing himself into the Salford defender, but the referee is not interested.

90+1 minThe fourth official confirms that three minutes will be added on. Time for a late twist?

89 minCLOSE! Poole certainly fancied his chances. Carson is diving at full stretch as Poole gets the free kick over the wall, but his effort drifts just a few inches past the post.

88 minThe fresh Mwasile is too quick for Carroll, who picks up a booking for bringing the substitute down. It's probably 35 yards out, but with the wind picking up, someone might fancy shooting from this free kick.

87 minSUB! Oates has struggled to get involved in the second half and he makes way for Brad Walker.

86 minSUB! Allen's night comes to an end as Salford send on Joe Mwasile. Hartlepool are then given a scare when Hulme's cross flashes across the face of the goal.

85 minCHANCE! Oh dear. This is a moment to forget for Fenwick, who is all alone in the box when he meets a cross, but he completely miscues a header to let Salford off the hook. He doesn't just fail to find the target, he actually manages to clear the ball!

84 minWorrying moments for Hartlepool as the ball bounces around in the box. Stopforth battles to get the ball to Poole, who can only poke a shot at Carson.

81 minPoole wins a free kick for his side on the left wing, and Jackson can only head behind when Burton looks to find a teammate at the back post. The pressure is on Hartlepool now.

79 minSUB! Salford make their first change as Webber comes off to be replaced by Jordan Hulme.

77 minChris Lynch almost becomes the hero! Nothing seems to be on when Salford work the ball out to the right-back, but he unleashes a superb strike to force Carson to tip the ball over. That would have been an FA Cup moment to remember.

74 minIs there going to be a hero? Paul Scholes was speaking to BBC at the break and he claims the club do not want a replay, with promotion the priority this season. It's very scrappy in midfield at the moment.

71 minBurton could see tomorrow's headlines! Options are on offer to the midfielder, but he unleashes a powerful 25-yard strike which Carson holds with ease.

70 minCHANCE! How are Hartlepool not leading 2-1? Gray's free kick is perfect as he finds Magnay at the back post. Magnay heads the ball back across the box and Bingham has the simple task of nodding home from close range, but he somehow manages to send his header over the crossbar. It's a shocker from the substitute.

69 minYELLOW CARD! Fenwick is too quick for Dawson, whose decision to dive in earns him a yellow card. No arguments from the defender.

67 minBrilliant from Dawson, who times his sliding tackle to perfection when Gray sprints into the box from the left wing. Salford will need a few more contributions like that one.

66 minHartlepool are just starting to look a bit more dangerous, but neither team are really dominating at this stage of the game. Bingham has already done more than Mandron since coming on. He's holding the ball up well to get teammates involved.

63 minSalford's energy levels certainly aren't dropping. If anything, they are showing the calmer heads in possession as Poole finds space with a clever touch before being halted by Jackson.

60 minCHANCE! Salford really should be ahead. Moments after being on the back foot, Allen leads an attack before finally shifting the ball to Hardcastle, who can only send a weak low effort into the hands of Carson. The midfielder must do better with that kind of chance.

59 minSAVE! Superb from Jay Lynch. Bingham does well to get the ball out wide before pulling it back to Oates, whose effort is blocked. The loose ball falls to Gray, but Lynch produces a brilliant save to tip the ball to safety.

58 minHartlepool clear once again when Webber fails to clear the first defender. The visitors are just not making enough good decisions in the final third of the pitch. Salford's defence looks comfortable as Oates loses the ball out wide.

57 minPlenty of players throwing themselves at the ball when another corner is sent in by the hosts, and despite the ball appearing to come off Lynch, a corner is awarded once again.

55 minSalford are still producing tackle after tackle in midfield to make life difficult for the visitors. Hartlepool make the first change of the night as Mandron comes off to be replaced by Rakish Bingham.

51 minA promising move comes to an end for Hartlepool. Featherstone comes forward with the ball and fakes a shot to buy space before finding Oates, whose cross is far too strong for anyone in the box.

48 minCHANCE! Big opportunity for Hartlepool to go ahead for the second time. Salford miss a couple of chances to head clear from a corner and Jackson threatens to capitalise before firing a loose ball wide of the post.

47 minExcellent start to the second half from Salford. Poole sees a couple of shots blocked, with the second effort coming after a clever turn in the box.

46 minRESTART! No changes at the break from either side. Hartlepool get the game back underway at Moor Lane.

8.53pmThe key for Hartlepool is surely to get the ball to Rhys Oates more often. He produced a fantastic run to win the penalty before firing home, and he has always looked capable of causing problems for the home defence. The visitors need to use him more regularly.

8.51pm

8.45pmAn entertaining first half football comes to an end. To steal a line from my granddad, it's a proper FA Cup tie out there. Salford look dangerous when they get men forward and you really would not bet against them scoring tonight. The next goal will be crucial. If Hartlepool get it, they might pull away.

8.42pmHALF TIME: SALFORD 1-1 HARTLEPOOL

45 minSalford finish the first half asking questions of Hartlepool. Webber delivers a corner into a good area at the back post, but Howson is unable to direct a header at goal on the stretch.

44 minSalford continue to test Hartlepool with early balls forward and a lot of credit should go to Webber, who has been quietly impressive in the first half with his running off the ball. The visitors are coping well at the moment.

41 minGood play from Oates on the edge of the box as he creates the space for a shot, but he can only drag an effort well wide of the post.

40 minSalford really would be delighted to get to the break level. There is a long way to go in this match and fatigue is certainly going to be an issue later in the game. Hartlepool are beginning to see more of the ball as we approach the interval.

38 minOFF THE BAR! Hartlepool are agonisingly close to regaining the lead. With so many players in the six-yard box, the hosts find it difficult to clear and Howson is left relieved when his miscued header bounces off the crossbar. Luckily for the defender, the referee thought it had come off a Hartlepool player.

36 minIt has not been a great first half for Hartlepool striker Mikael Mandron, who bounces off a couple of defenders while unsuccessfully attempting to reach a cross.

35 minA few home fans want a penalty when Poole attempts to sprint through on goal, but Jackson does well to hold off the forward and clear the danger.

34 minOates is certainly the key for Hartlepool. He sprints past a couple of rivals with apparent ease in midfield, but he delays the pass and is eventually dispossessed by Howson.

31 minThe concern for Ronnie Moore and Hartlepool must be that the visitors are not retaining possession in the way you would expect the favourites to in the first half. Very little is sticking when the ball is sent forward and they haven't threatened created a chance since the penalty.

29 minCHANCE! There's no doubt about who is on top now. Webber's clever movement off the ball allows him to find space out wide and he delivers an inviting cross to Stopforth, whose header takes a deflection on the way to missing the near post.

27 minWhen your manager points his finger to his head, you know he wants you to think. That always seems to come after a goal is scored, doesn't it? Salford look confident, but they have to be careful about committing too many men forward. Hartlepool are a threat on the break.

24 minIt's the FA Cup! It was never going to be a straightforward night. Hartlepool have looked uncomfortable dealing with balls sent into the box and a free kick provides the equaliser. Hardcastle's delivery is excellent and after Dawson wins the first header, it's Stephen O'Halloran who reacts quickest to fire home from close range.

23 minGOAL! SALFORD 1-1 HARTLEPOOL (O'HALLORAN)

20 minPoole does well to create space with a good touch on the wing, but he can only slice a cross out of play.

18 minSalford have responded well to the early setback, but Hartlepool are getting men behind the ball to frustrate the home fans. The referee really should get a yellow card out of his pocket when Burton jumps into a tackle on Magnay. Hartlepool's captain doesn't make much of it, but the tackle was worthy of a caution.

15 minCLOSE! Salford are not far away from getting back on level terms. Hartlepool never really clear the danger from a corner and the ball is sent back into the box. Chris Lynch is unmarked and heads the ball back across the face of the goal, but Webber is not alert and the ball drifts wide.

13 minWebber's latest corner is delivered into a better area, but Carson is put under no pressure and he tips the ball to safety while backtracking in the box.

12 minHow can Salford respond? They need a few minutes to calm things down, and to be fair, they are passing the ball around better now. Hartlepool needed that early goal. The travelling supporters sound confident.

9 minOates shows no nerves from the spot as he fires the penalty into the bottom corner. It could be a long night for Salford from here.

8 minGOAL! SALFORD 0-1 HARTLEPOOL (OATES)

7 minPENALTY! Big early moment in this tie. Oates breaks free of a couple of defenders before cutting inside to encourage a foolish challenge from Dawson, who brings the 21-year-old down.

7 minSalford really need to make the most of set-piece opportunities, but Webber wastes a corner by sending the ball beyond his teammates in the box.

6 minA long ball is only cleared to Poole, whose clever pass almost reaches Webber but Jackson steps in with a crucial interception.

5 minThe cameras have just flashed to a very nervous looking Nicky Butt, who is hardly in the executive box standing on the hill behind one of the goals. It's been a decent start for Salford, but neither side are keeping the ball very well.

3 minAs you would probably expect, it has been a very scrappy start to the game as Salford look to get the ball forward as quickly as possible.

1 minKICKOFF! It's Salford who get the game underway. Plenty of noise coming from the supporters. 350 Hartlepool fans are reported to have made the trip.

7.52pmHere we go then. The players are on their way out. No tunnels, obviously, but they are definitely on the way. Kickoff is just a few moments away.

7.49pmSalford had never previously gone further than the third qualifying round in the FA Cup before this season. Is a third-round clash with Man Utd on the cards? Or will Hartlepool kill off any hopes of a famous result? An early goal for the visitors could be key to keeping the home fans as quiet as possible.

7.47pmAs the atmosphere builds ahead of kickoff, Danny Webber has just told BBC Sport: "You can see everybody is at it tonight, we're looking to replicate what we did last time, show the same energy and the same spirit, we're excited."

7.43pmFormer Man Utd players will not be the only famous faces paying close attention to this game. This man will not want to see an upset!

7.39pmKai Naismith misses out for the visitors due to being cup-tied, with Scott Fenwick coming in to replace him in attack. The good news for Moore is that Carl Magnay is fit enough to start after recently suffering from blurred vision. A little fact for you. Magnay was the winner of the second series of Sky One's Football Icon. That earned him his start at Chelsea.

7.36pmAfter scoring the dramatic winner over Notts County, Allen is handed a start by Salford's co-managers Darren Sheridan and Anthony Johnson. Gareth Seddon, who topped the scoring charts last season, is still out with a knee injury. Former Man Utd and Watford striker Danny Webber leads the line.

7.32pmSALFORD: J. Lynch, C. Lynch, O'Halloran, Stopforth, Howson, Dawson, Hardcastle, Burton, Webber, Allen, Poole HARTLEPOOL: Carson, Duckworth, Bates, Jackson, Carroll, Featherstone, Magnay, Gray, Oates, Mandron, Fenwick

7.29pmWith the link to Manchester United legends and the recent documentary on Salford, Moore has been left in no doubt as to who the neutral will be supporting when the game gets underway.
© Getty Images
"It'll be a really tough game, they're at home and I think every person in the country wants us to be beaten so we're fighting the nation - except everybody in Hartlepool," he told BBC Tees.

7.25pmEveryone knows the story by now. The Class of '92 co-owns Salford, with Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes each holding a 10% share of the club. Singaporean billionaire Pete Lim, who owns Valencia, holds the other 50%. It's grassroots football mixed with some glamour, and the rumours are that Gary may have flown back from Spain to watch the game tonight. I'm guessing Lim was probably happy to give him the night off.

7.22pmKudus Oyenuga scored the only goal as Hartlepool beat Cheltenham 1-0 in the first round to set up this tie. A night focusing on the FA Cup comes as a distraction to their current league form. Hartlepool have lost four of their last five games in League Two and sit 20th in the table.

7.18pmIt has been a great story so far for Salford. Since thrashing Whitby 5-0 in a replay in the first qualifying round, there has been some great moments for the club currently playing in the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League. After reaching the first round proper, it was Danny Webber and Richie Allen who delivered the goods in a shock 2-1 win over Notts County. Can the repeat the trick tonight?

7.15pmGood evening everyone! Fancy some FA Cup magic? Well, before the Premier League clubs join the fun it is time for some of the minnows to try their luck in the second round. Salford City take centre stage as they look to continue their run by causing a shock against League Two's Hartlepool United.
Author photo

Written by

Share this article:

People mentioned in this article :

Teams mentioned in this article :

Salford City related articles
Football related articles
Subscribe to our newsletter

Get FREE daily news and in-depth previews for games from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football — straight to your inbox.

Subscribe