Harrogate Town 1-2 Hartlepool United RECAP: Luke Molyneux caps landmark appearance with wonder strike as Pools come from behind to beat Harrogate
Graeme Lee’s side had to do things the hard way again after falling behind for the fourth consecutive game when Luke Armstrong inevitably opened the scoring against his old club.
But Pools did not need to wait until half-time on this occasion as they sparked their own reaction through Luke Molyneux’s stunning equaliser on his 100th appearance for the club.
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Hide AdThe two sides went in level at the break but it was Lee’s side who forced the issue in the second half and deservedly took the lead through a sweet strike from David Ferguson.
The away side looked assured for large parts of the second half and were able to dig in during the closing stages to see out the game and earn a big three points.
Despite being a fairly even opening period of the game it was the home side who took the lead after Armstrong found space in the box from a throw-in on the right before shifting the ball onto his left and rolling into the bottom corner.
But where Pools have laboured at times having gone behind in the first half recently they got back on level terms within four minutes when Mark Shelton found Molyneux on the right and the 23-year-old did what he does best as he cut inside before unleashing a wonderful effort into the top corner beyond the outstretched Mark Oxley.
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Hide AdAnd Pools might have taken the lead when Tom Crawford twice dragged wide with the scores level at the break.
But it was the visitors who pressed for the go ahead goal in the second half with Joe Grey just missing out at the back post from Jamie Sterry’s cross.
The travelling 600 Poolies didn’t have long to wait though as Omar Bogle was able to pick out Ferguson on the edge of the area and the fullback arrowed an effort low into the bottom corner.
Sunderland loan midfielder Jack Diamond brought a good save from Ben Killip in the closing stages but it was Pools who were able to hold on to get back to winning ways.
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Harrogate Town 1-2 Hartlepool United RECAP: Luke Molyneux and David Ferguson star as Pools come from behind to win in Harrogate
Key Events
- David Ferguson fires Hartlepool into the lead.
- Luke Molyneux equalises with a stunning strike from range.
- Luke Armstrong puts Harrogate in front against his old club.
- Harrogate Town XI: Oxley, Fallowfield, Page, Smith, Burrell, Thomson, Pattison, Muldoon, Diamond, Armstrong, Richards
- Subs: Kavanagh, Beck, Cracknell, Sherron, Austerfield, Power
- Hartlepool United XI: Killip, Sterry, Liddle, Odusina, Ferguson, Featherstone , Shelton, Crawford, Grey, Molyneux, Bogle
- Subs: Bilokapic, Hull, Smith, Fletcher, White, Holohan, Carver
5 - CLOSE CALL
Ferguson is tripped right on the edge of the area as the referee signals a freekick rather than a penalty
Ferguson heads a corner away as Richards tries to recycle it down the left but Liddle this time clears
1 - DIAMOND WITH THE STRIKE
Bright start from the hosts as Armstrong and Diamond link with the Sunderland midfielder testing Killip from range
Reaction
Our Hartlepool United reporter Joe Ramage shares his views on Graeme Lee’s team selection.
“Two changes for Pools this afternoon as they make the relatively short journey to Harrogate.
“Joe Grey and Mark Shelton come in for Joe White and Isaac Fletcher and they seem reasonable changes.
“Grey madehis return to the squad from the bench last week at Walsall after enjoying a good run of games before pickingup an injury against Tranmere.
“The break may also come at a good time for White, too, who has found his number called over recent weeks.
“Fletchr can perhaps consider himself unfortunate not to retain his spot after an improved second half at the Banks’s Stadium a week ago but Lee may have opted for a little more experience in the midfield for this, a game he was describing as a derby in the build-up.
“Bryn Morris continues to miss out after an ankle injury picked up against Sutton United with Lee alluding to some players not being available on the training ground who he would have hope to be.
“But Pools stick with the 4-3-3 including Gary Liddle in defence with Neill Byrne suspended.”