Harrogate Town 1-2 Hartlepool United RECAP: Luke Molyneux caps landmark appearance with wonder strike as Pools come from behind to beat Harrogate

Hartlepool United staged another thrilling comeback against Harrogate Town as they got back to winning ways in League Two.
David Ferguson scored the winner as Hartlepool United came from behind to beat Harrogate Town. (Credit: Mark Fletcher | MI News)David Ferguson scored the winner as Hartlepool United came from behind to beat Harrogate Town. (Credit: Mark Fletcher | MI News)
David Ferguson scored the winner as Hartlepool United came from behind to beat Harrogate Town. (Credit: Mark Fletcher | MI News)

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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The 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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And 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

That’s all for today everyone.

Thank you for joining us in Harrogate as Luke Molyneux capped his 100th appearance for the club with a special goal as Graeme Lee’s side came from behind to claim all three points over Harrogate Town.

Pools now move onto another huge night under the lights at the Suit Direct Stadium on Wednesday in the semi-final of the Papa John’s Trophy and we’ll see you there, too.

Enjoy your weekend Pools fans.

Hartlepool United supporters have been reacting on social media to their win over Harrogate Town

@MarkReeve85: Amazing away support ✅ Screamer from Mols ✅ 3 more points on the road ✅ Bring on Rotherham 🔵⚪️

@GoodLaughTerry: Played lads. Keep that up for Wednesday and we're golden. 💙💙💙

@pirate159: Great result lads, get in there. #NSD

@CraigCa83244010: Superb performance. Controlled it really from the equaliser. Looked a really good side.

@bripowell91: Absolutely fantastic result that! Well done lads! UTP! 👏🏻💙

Our Hartlepool United writer Joe Ramage gives his verdict on another comeback win for Pools against Harrogate Town.

“Graeme Lee will be delighted with his players this afternoon who once again reacted to going a goal behind with two superb goals to turn the game on its head and claim all three points.

“Luke Molyneux’s wonder goal cancelled out Luke Armstrong’s earlier strike beofre David Fergusons’s second half effort grabbed Pools all three points in North Yorkshire.

“And they deserved this result. From going behind, Lee’s side were the better of the two teams and really fought their way back into things, playing some excellent stuff at times, particularly in the second half.

“It was the perfect response for Pools after last week’s defeat at Walsall.

“Lee admitted he felt it had been a good week on the training ground with no game in midweek and he was right as Pools looked re-energised.

“It moves Pools to within three points of that magic total of 50 where they can surely allay any fears of relegation.

“And with a huge semi-final now on the horizon for Lee and his players, it is the perfect way to head into that game with a number of fine performances across the field.

“And a special mention to Gary Liddle who celebrated his 700th career appearance this afternoon. Fitting that he returned to his best following last week’s error at Walsall and was able to walk off with three points to mark the occasions.”

Graeme Lee on Luke Molyneux

Graeme Lee has heaped praise on striker Luke Molyneux after the 23-year-old inspired Hartlepool United to victory against Harrogate Town.

Molyneux scored a stunning goal to get Pools back on level terms on what was his 100th appearance for the club with Lee admitting the former Sunderland striker is a vital part of the Pools squad.

“He’s a massive part of the team and he’s scored some vital goals for us. And they’ve been top, top goals when he’s scored.

“The last couple of weeks, with the month we’ve had, he looked a bit fatigued so he was only having moments in the games whereas today he was a constant threat and that was the Mols we want week-in, week-out.

“We appreciate it’s difficult to be at that high intensity that we demand from the wide players but when he gets the ball in possession he’s effective and he’s shown that and is proving to be a vital part of the team.”

Initial reaction to Pools’ win

It’s all over here in Harrogate and Pools claim another big win on the road coming from behind against the Sulphurites again this season much to the delight of the away end

90 - DIAMOND FIRES OVER

Diamond cuts in from the left and fires well over. That could be that...

Hull replaces Molyneux

Big scramble at the back post as the corner lands at Smith’s feet but a number of blue and white shirts are able to usher it out

Three minutes will be added