Hartlepool United 1-2 Anstey Nomads: Pools dumped out of FA Trophy in humiliating fashion by lower league opposition

Although Anstey, who had never before reached the third round, let alone progressed to the fourth, might not be a name synonymous with footballing might and achievement, the Nomads will now cast a long shadow over Pools after what must surely rank as one of the worst results in the club's entire history.

Although new manager Nicky Featherstone's tenure has been, for the most part, extremely positive, the 37-year-old's time in charge so far has been bookended by two nightmarish cup exits.

Having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Northern Premier League Premier Division side Gainsborough Trinity in October, Featherstone's first game at the helm, Pools suffered an even more humbling result against an Anstey side who played like Saturday's game meant so much more to them than their dire hosts.

While Pools might well point to Danny Johnson's penalty, which was saved by the impressive Anthony Nunez, four minutes into the second half as a moment when the game could have turned in their favour, in truth the home side were second best against a team well below them in the footballing pyramid.

Even when the plucky visitors took an early lead thanks to skipper Jordan Annable, most Pools fans would have felt confident that their side would have more than enough to turn the contest around.

Yet it wasn't to be and Tendai Chitiza added a second shortly after Johnson had been denied from the spot as Nomads secured what will long be remembered as one of the best results in their history, condemning Pools to one of their worst despite a late consolation from effort from teenager Campbell Darcy.

Pools, who made four changes from last weekend's disappointing defeat at the hands of a resurgent Yeovil, started the game slowly and the visitors fashioned the first chance in the 12th minute when Maxim Kouogun blocked Annable's goalbound effort.

Pools were punished for their failure to respond to some early warning signs when Anstey took the lead two minutes later. The home side didn't deal with a deep corner and Annable was on hand to fire the visitors in front and put the Nomads in a strong position for a potentially historic upset.

The hosts huffed and puffed in a bid to get back into the game but found things tough against Anstey's spirited rearguard, with Matty Daly's deflected strike after 22 minutes their only real effort of note in the opening stages.

Pools really struggled to get going in the first 30 minutes although frontman Johnson, desperately hoping to end a miserable run of 21 games without a goal since signing for the club in the summer, almost stole in following Maxim Kouogun's flick-on but was denied by some sharp work from goalkeeper Nunez.

Very little of note happened in the final quarter of an hour of what was a pretty dismal first half performance from Pools, although there was a break in play following an injury to one of the linesmen that saw five minutes added at the end of the opening period.

The hosts one real chance in the first half came in the fourth of those five added minutes when the marauding Cameron John weaved his way through the Anstey defence before teeing up Daly, whose shot was well-saved by Nunez.

Having been generally so impressive under Featherstone, who was appointed Pools boss until the end of the season earlier this month following a hugely successful eight-week spell in caretaker charge, the home side lacked any sort of purpose, energy or intent and had left themselves plenty of work to do in the second period against a Nomads outfit who were full of spirit and determination.

Pools spurned a golden chance to draw level four minutes into the second half when the luckless Johnson had a penalty saved by the impressive Nunez. With the experienced frontman desperate to end his recent barren run, Johnson stepped up after the hosts had been awarded a spot-kick but his effort was a good height for Nunez, who is on loan at Anstey from Mansfield, and the sprawling youngster made a fine save to preserve his side's slender lead.

Three minutes later and Featherstone, desperate to avoid another humiliating cup exit, made a raft of changes as Johnson's miserable afternoon came to a premature end. On in his place came Alex Reid, while Louis Stephenson and Darcy, who had both been called back from loan spells in the week, were also introduced.

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts in the 56th minute when Chitiza, who had spent time playing in Serbia earlier in his career, made it 2-0 to the visitors. Pools were again made to pay for lacklustre defending and the Zimbabwean-born striker took full advantage to double his side's lead.

It wasn't until the closing stages that Pools showed any real signs of life in the contest, with John and skipper Tom Parkes both sending efforts wide in quick succession as the clock ticked down.

The hosts pulled one back in added time when Darcy scored his first senior goal for the club - the one and only positive from a miserable afternoon - but it was far too little, too late for Pools.

In truth, Pools never really looked like getting back into the game - nor did they deserve to - as Anstey condemned them to what will rank as a historic result for both sides.

The challenge now for Pools will be ensuring that their latest cup debacle does not derail their impressive recent progress in the National League ahead of next weekend's trip to strugglers Braintree, with the game set to kick-off at 2pm on Sunday, December 21.

Pools (4-2-3-1): Smith; Benn (sub, Stephenson, 53), Kouogun, Parkes (c), John; Ferguson (sub, Sheron, 57), Miley; Brown (sub, Darcy, 53), Campbell, Daly; Johnson (sub, Reid, 53)