Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor reacts as former Middlesbrough and Scunthorpe United midfielder Luke Williams scores on first competitive start in three and a half years at Halifax Town

With Pools trailing 2-0 at The Shay, they were awarded a penalty following a handball by Neill Byrne inside the penalty area.

And Williams was quick to pick the ball up and calmly dispatch from 12-yards to get Hartlepool back into the cup tie with his first competitive goal since January 2017.

Once the penalty was given, manager Dave Challinor had little doubt over who would take it.

“If we have a free-kick, set-piece or a penalty, Luke is definitely going to put his hand up to want to take it,” said the Pools boss.

“As soon as we got the penalty, without [Nicky Featherstone] on the pitch, you don’t need to tell who’s going to take it. Luke Armstrong probably falls into that boat as well because he wants to score.

"It’s a big positive and we’ll look at Luke’s data and what he’s done in the first half and fingers crossed he has no negative reaction to the game.”

Williams was brought off at half-time as Pools built on their momentum following his penalty to turn the game around. Featherstone, who came on in place of Williams, drew Pools level following another handball penalty which saw Jack King sent off for The Shaymen.

Billy Chadwick then instantly put the hosts back ahead despite their one man disadvantage before Gavan Holohan curled in a fine equaliser to force penalties.

The afternoon would end in disappointment for Pools as they were beaten 4-2 in the shootout. As a result, the 45-minutes for Williams was arguably the highlight for Hartlepool.

"The result is what’s important but Luke Williams playing and scoring is certainly a big positive,” Challinor added.

“It would have been a risk leaving him 15-minutes at half-time and then putting him back out there especially with the conditions getting worse. Hopefully we can keep pushing him so he gets to a point where he’s able to complete 90-minutes for us.

"If that means he’s there as an impact substitute then so be it. Fingers crossed we can get him to that point because it’s been a really long time and difficult process.”

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