Analysis: Fireworks but no firepower for Hartlepool United following FA Cup first round defeat at Salford City

For the first time since August 2019, Pools failed to score a goal away from home as Salford clinched a 2-0 FA Cup first round win after extra-time at the Peninsula Stadium.

Goals from substitutes Bruno Andrade and Mani Dieseruvwe helped the Ammies book a place in Monday night’s first-round draw.

In many ways, the tie was a mirror image of the clubs’ last meeting in the competition five years ago.

Back then, League Two Hartlepool beat non-league Salford 2-0 after extra-time at Victoria Park. On Saturday, it was League Two hosts Salford who progressed in the same manner against their non-league opponents.

How times have changed.

Dave Challinor's side went into the game looking for a reaction from the dismal showing against Torquay United last weekend.

As a result, six changes were made to the side with full debuts for Josh MacDonald and new loan signing Tyler Magloire from Blackburn Rovers.

The 21-year-old centre-back only arrived at Pools on Friday but was thrown straight into the starting line-up out of necessity.

Rhys Oates and Claudio Ofosu were also brought in from the cold to start after missing out on the matchday squad in the previous match.

Goalkeeper Henrich Ravas and midfielder Tom Crawford also returned to the starting line-up for the first time since the 6-0 fourth qualifying round win at Ilkeston Town.

Oates was one of only two Pools players to feature in the FA Cup win over Salford back in 2015, the other being Nicky Featherstone.

And despite missing recent games, Oates was lively and looked to cause problems in a difficult role as a lone striker.

The 25-year-old’s effort and endeavour will never be questioned but in games where Pools need someone to just put the ball in the back of the net, he’s not quite as reliable.

Salford enjoyed the majority of possession early on yet it was Pools who came closest to opening the scoring as the lively Ofosu cut in from the left and beat goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky with a deflected effort only to be denied by the crossbar.

Oates looked to be in an ideal position to prod home on the rebound but the ball didn’t quite fall to him.

At the other end, Ravas was keeping the home side at bay with a series of composed and confident saves.

Based on the Derby County loanee’s two FA Cup appearances so far, he certainly looks a very good acquisition though perhaps too good to be a second choice goalkeeper.

Unfortunately for him, number one Ben Killip has barely put a foot wrong so far this season so he may still have to wait to make his National League debut.

The first half saw Salford in control but without any real bite in attack as Pools looked to play on the counter.

The second half proved to be a different affair as the visitors started to grow in confidence.

Seconds after the restart, Featherstone showed good feet on the edge of the box before shooting narrowly wide of the target.

Substitutes David Parkhouse and Luke Molyneux also saw chances go begging as Pools failed to punish Salford.

The League Two team were being forced into mistakes by Pools’ pressure but the visitors failed to capitalise as Ofosu missed another great opportunity one on one.

It was 0-0 after 90-minutes and in previous seasons that would have meant a clean sheet for Pools and a replay back at The Vic – but this isn’t a normal season.

At the very least, Pools could be satisfied with their reaction from conceding five against Torquay seven days prior. The new look defence had only one training session together yet they had managed to keep a strong Ammies attack at bay throughout normal time.

Johnson and Lewis Cass looked a lot more comfortable playing as part of a back three as Magloire helped keep things balanced at the back.

In extra-time, it would ultimately be a defensive error that would undo all of Pools’ hard work at the back.

With 105-minutes on the clock, Magloire hesitated to clear the danger and Johnson failed to track Ian Henderson’s run as the Salford man slid the ball across goal for Andrade to tap in and make it 1-0.

Pools were in need of a spark as they now had just 15-minutes to force penalties.

They had a golden chance to do that from a corner as the ball fell kindly to Cass in the six-yard box but the Newcastle United loanee somehow fired over as Salford hung on.

Just days after Bonfire Night, fireworks were blaring suspiciously close to the Peninsula Stadium as the game went on. But things overstepped the mark with 10-minutes of extra-time remaining as one firework looped over the Moor Lane side of the stadium and exploded on the field of play, shrouding the pitch in smoke and debris.

Fortunately, no one in the ground was hurt as play was remarkably allowed to continue as Pools remained on the attack.

David Ferguson came close with a sweet strike from distance but after Pools threw bodies forward in the final moments, Salford managed to break as Dieseruvwe found space and applied a clinical finish to put the tie to bed.

It’s an early cup exit for Pools but they’ve still managed to pocket £15,032 plus half of the profits Salford generated from their live stream.

The match was one that once again highlighted the fine margins in football and if you don’t have someone who can put the ball in the net, you’ll struggle to win games no matter how well you play.

Now focus shifts firmly to getting the National League campaign back on track.

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