Hartlepool United 2-1 Gateshead: Pools come from behind to inflict more misery on 10-man Heed

The home side were well below their best in the first half and could have few complaints at finding themselves a goal down at the break after Louis Storey headed home Keaton Ward's corner in the 12th minute.

The Gateshead goalscorer went from hero to zero when he was sent off for a reckless challenge on Nathan Sheron in the early stages of the second half and Alex Reid levelled things up for Pools in the 81st minute following a spell of sustained pressure.

Despite a valiant effort from the visitors, who are rock bottom of the National League, Pools found a winner in the 89th minute when substitute Matty Daly fired into the top corner to keep Nicky Featherstone's side in play-off contention.

Pools, who named an unchanged side from Saturday's narrow win over Altrincham, their first home game since American businessman and investor Landon Smith completed his takeover of the club, made a tentative start and had to be alert to snuff out a half-chance for Levi Amantchi following good work from Billy Chadwick and Fenton John after two minutes. Moments later, Maxim Kouogun was almost caught underneath a hopeful long ball forward with Amantchi, one of a raft of new signings since the return of manager Rob Elliot earlier this month, poised to steal in.

At the other end, Pools threatened for the first time through the marauding Jay Benn but his cross from the left was headed out of danger by the towering Mark Beck, one of two changes for the visitors.

Pools were punished for a slow start when the visitors took the lead after 12 minutes. Storey, who returned for a second spell at the Gateshead International Stadium having helped the Heed win both the National League North and FA Trophy titles during his first stint, glanced in Ward's corner at the near-post to hand Elliot's side the advantage.

The hosts were looking dangerous down the left and Charman, once again his side's most threatening outlet, fired over in the 20th minute following a purposeful forward run.

Charman, one of the outstanding performers since returning from bone bruising on his foot, forced Tiernan Brooks into action four minutes later, although his low drive was comfortable for the Gateshead goalkeeper. Despite the attacker's best efforts, however, home fans were showing signs of increasing frustration while the visitors were a threat on the break.

With Gateshead looking to end a miserable record of 13 successive defeats, their worst run in the club's entire history, the lively Amantchi was causing the hosts a few problems and looked well-placed to double the Heed's advantage when he was denied by an excellent block from Reiss McNally.

At the other end, Alex Reid went close twice in quick succession, heading over from a promising position before flashing a low effort across the face of goal and out for a throw-in following Benn's ball over the top of Gateshead's back line.

Although the home supporters were growing restless, the Heed were looking a bit unsure of themselves at the back and Pools went within a whisker of an equaliser when Jack Hunter's goalbound effort was deflected over the crossbar in the 31st minute.

For all Pools were posing an occasional threat in the final third, the home side were struggling to assert any sort of authority on the contest and Gateshead were looking increasingly comfortable in possession, with Beck and Amantchi dovetailing well up front.

Familiar problems were plaguing Pools as a tepid first half drew to a close, with the hosts uncertain in the final third, Reid isolated once again and the midfield struggling to get into the game; in truth, Nicky Featherstone's side could have few complaints at finding themselves a goal down at the break.

Gateshead came close to a second a minute after the restart when Beck, who was proving a real handful for the Pools back line, flicked Brad Nicholson's mammoth long throw narrowly wide of the post.

The home side were all at sea at the start of the second half and the visitors threatened again when the excellent Billy Chadwick almost caught out Nick Hayes after 48 minutes. The diminutive forward, who signed on loan from title-chasing York earlier in January, fired a low strike through a crowd of bodies and Hayes, somewhat unconventionally, kept his effort out with his legs.

The hosts were handed a lifeline two minutes later when the experienced Storey was shown a straight red card after steaming into Nathan Sheron. Just when Gateshead were pressing for a second, the momentum of the game appeared to turn on its head.

Pools made two changes in a bid to hammer home their man advantage, introducing Sam Folarin, so impressive from the bench against Altrincham, and Matty Daly in place of Adam Campbell, whose departure was met by cheers and jeers from the home fans, and Jack Hunter. Daly almost made an instant impact, combining well with Miley before bending an effort narrowly wide of the far post when he should really have scored.

All of a sudden, Pools were beginning to turn the screw and the hosts went close again in the 58th minute when Reid diverted a threatening cross from the left the wrong side of the post from the home side's perspective.

The home side were pressing for an equaliser but were continuing to struggle to string many free-flowing passages of play together, although the determined Charman had Brooks retreating with an ambitious effort from distance in the 66th minute.

Pools came close once again with 19 minutes of normal time remaining when the recently-introduced Folarin combined well with Sheron before picking out Charman at the back post. The attacker rose highest and his header looked destined to nestle in the far corner when it was somehow turned clear on the line by the impressive Nicholson. From the resulting corner, Kouogun headed over before Hull loanee Pharrell Brown was introduced in place of skipper Tom Parkes as Pools changed shape and started to throw bodies forward.

With the home side committing players in attack, Pools were almost caught out on the counter-attack but a brilliant piece of defending from the retreating Jamie Miley cut out Chadwick's through ball.

Pools drew level nine minutes from time when Reid scored for the second time in as many games. Danny Johnson, moments after coming on in place of Miley, forced a save from Brooks but Reid was on hand to fire home the rebound, his seventh goal of the season.

The hosts thought they'd found a winner after 87 minutes when Johnson bundled an effort towards goal but it was hooked off the line by an increasingly desperate Gateshead.

Pools didn't have to wait much longer and Daly broke Heed hearts in the final minute of normal time, curling a sumptuous effort into the top corner to put the hosts in front. Gateshead had done well initially to clear a threatening cross but, with the visitors out on their feet, Daly was allowed too much time and space on the edge of the box to score his third goal of the campaign.

From there, Gateshead never really looked like getting back into the game as Pools kept pace in the race for the National League play-offs ahead of a long trip to relegation-threatened Brackley at the weekend.

Pools (4-2-3-1): Hayes; McNally, Kouogun, Parkes (c) (sub, Brown, 74), Benn; Hunter (sub, Folarin, 57), Sheron; Campbell (sub, Daly, 57), Miley (sub, Johnson, 79), Charman; Reid