Hartlepool fight back for great point at Crewe

A brace from Carl Magnay coupled with Padraig Amond’s first goal for the club saw Pools recover having been behind twice.

The visitors fell behind to Chris Dagnall’s close-range finish just after the half hour, before levelling through Magnay’s fine curling effort from 25 yards minutes before the break.

Crewe retook the lead on the stroke of half-time as Alex Kiwomya side-footed home from 12 yards before seeing their lead extended as George Cooper’s cross found the back of the net on 56 minutes.

But just as it looked as if it looked as if Pools were down and out, they were given a lifeline as Amond stabbed home from close range with 73 minutes on the clock.

And a leveller came only three minutes later as Magnay stooped low at the far post to head home Nathan Thomas’ teasing free-kick.

Craig Hignett’s side were then able to withstand some late pressure from the Railwaymen and secure a hard-fought point away from home.

Pools: Carson; Magnay, Bates, Nsiala, Carroll; Alessandra, Deverdics (Woods 57), Featherstone (Laurent 90), Thomas; Paynter, Amond. Subs Not Used: Bartlett, Oates, Hawkins, Richards, Harrison

Goals: Magnay (42, 76), Amond (73)

Bookings: None

Crewe: Garratt; Turton, Guthrie, Davis, Bakayogo; Cooper (Kirk 76), Jones, Bingham, Kiwomya; Lowe, Dagnall. Subs Not Used: Richards, Ray, Nugent, Sanders, Udoh, Ainley

Goals: Dagnall (31), Kiwomya (45), Cooper (57)

Bookings: Guthrie (90+1)

Attendance: 3,482 (195 away)