Hartlepool United 3 Bromley 2 RECAP: Rhys Oates on fire as Pools set up Stockport County semi-final
Pools host Bromley (2:30pm kick-off) in front of around 1,700 fans for the play-off eliminator round match. The game will be decided on the day, via extra-time and penalties if necessary, with the losing side’s season coming to an end.
And after waiting all season for fans to return to Victoria Park, Hartlepool will now experience back to back matches in front of their supporters in little over a week.
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Hide AdBut unlike last Saturday’s 4-0 win over Weymouth, the pressure is on Pools to deliver and not slip up against Bromley.
Pools boss Dave Challinor has admitted that nerves are natural going into these big games but he hopes the crowd will be able to carry on the support they displayed last time out.
Dom Scurr is at The Vic for the Mail and we will bring you unrivalled coverage throughout the day.
Hartlepool United 3 (Oates, 17, 24, Armstrong 20) Bromley 2 (Alabi, 48) LIVE: Action and analysis from Victoria Park
Key Events
- Pools: James; Ferguson, Johnson, Liddle, Odusina, Sterry; Featherstone, Shelton, Holohan; Oates, Armstrong
- Subs: Ravas, Donaldson, Saunders, Elliott, Francis-Angol
- Lewis Cass misses out with a hamstring injury but Luke Armstrong is back in the starting line-up
Bromley score again late on....but Pools hold on for the 3-2 win! Pools will now face Stockport County next week
One down, two more games to go.
Pools win 3-2 - despite a very late Bromley goal to make it a nervy final minute.
Oates the MOTM, he was superb. Pools held on and they now face Stockport County next Sunday.
Scroll down for all the action with reaction to come.
Standing ovation for Oates as he heads off
Third sub for Pools in the 88th minute as Elliott comes on for Oates.
The Pools player of the year has been superb, scoring twice and setting up the other. What an afternoon for Oates.
On comes Elliott for the final stages. Not long to go now...with Pools set to face Stockport County in the semi-final.
Oates named the BT Sport man of the match.
Subs for Pools
Dave Challinor has made his first couple of subs of the game, Francis-Angol has come on for Holohan.
The midfielder ran himself into the ground and hobbled off, hopefully not an injury concern.
The other change saw Ryan Donaldson come on for Ferguson. 83 minutes gone and Pools still lead 3-1.
64’ Much tighter contest now
It remains 3-1 Pools here with just over an hour gone.
It is a much more even contest here at The Vic after Bromley got one back, they have been much improved, mind, they couldn’t have been much worse after that first half.
Not too many chances at either end since the Bromley goal. Pools have just had a corner but it was cleared. Wonder when Challinor will think about his first sub. The winner plays Stockport away next Sunday.
Goal: Bromley get one back early in the second half
Bromley have scored.
Half-time sub Alabi with the free header from a corner. Really poor defending from Pools and the lead cut to 3-1.
Nervy few minutes now!
HT: Pools are 3-0 up here and in command
Wow, time for a breather.
Pools are 3-0 up here at The Vic after a commanding first half display, Bromley couldn’t cope with Rhys Oates in particular - the forward has two goals to his name. Luke Armstrong with the other.
Bromley saw one effort cleared off the line, Gary Liddle with the header but that aside Pools are fully deserving of their strong lead. They have one foot in the semi-final against Stockport County next weekend.
GOOOAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!! Pools are now 3-0 up here
What is going on!
Pools are 3-0 up here at The Vic and it’s that man again - Rhys Oates with the goal.
Pools in command and in control.
GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!! Quickfire second puts Pools in command, Luke Armstrong with the goal
And Pools go 2-0 up three minutes later!
Superb play again by Rhys Oates, he chases a longball hard and wins it, and then cuts the ball back to Armstrong, he takes a touch, makes some room and finishes well.
Pools, with 20 minutes gone here at The Vic, now lead 2-0 and are in command. Scenes in the stands!
GOOOOAAAAALLLL!!! Oates makes it 1-0
Rhys Oates puts Hartlepool United ahead with a superb finish in the 17th minute.
Featherstone picked him out with a superb long ball, Oates showed great strength and composure before finishing from the right-hand side of the penalty area, to put Pools ahead. The Vic erupts.