Solihull Moors 3-4 Hartlepool United: Pools come from two goals down to take big step towards National League play-off places

In a topsy-turvy first half, Pools found themselves two goals down following Conor Wilkinson's eighth minute penalty and Gavan Holohan's nightmarish own goal after 24 minutes but the visitors hauled themselves back into the game thanks to quickfire strikes from Alex Reid and Jamie Miley before the break.

Pools completed a remarkable turnaround in the 83rd minute when the outstanding Tyrese Sinclair turned home from close range against his former side before the York City loanee's added time free-kick made it 4-2.

The hosts pulled one back late on through substitute Emmanuel Sonupe, who turned home the rebound after Bradley Stevenson hit the bar from the penalty spot, but Pools held on to what could well prove a vitally important three points.

Pools, who made three changes as Sinclair, Holohan and Cameron John were all restored to the starting XI, started brightly and fashioned the first chance of the game after four minutes when the lively Sinclair flashed an effort wide of the far post after latching onto Reid's flick-on.

Pools went behind in the 8th minute when Wilkinson sent Nick Hayes the wrong way from the penalty spot. The visitors were penalised by referee Ben Atkinson after Wilkinson diverted the ball onto a Pools hand from close range and the experienced sent Hayes the wrong way with his left foot from 12 yards.

The visitors were second best for large parts of the first half and rarely threatened their hosts other than a tame effort from Adam Campbell after 20 minutes.

Things went from bad to worse for Pools four minutes later when Gavan Holohan scored a calamitous own goal. With the visitors struggling to deal with Solihull's purposeful press, the Irishman's attempted back pass from around 25 yards proved too strong for Hayes and caught the Pools goalkeeper out as the home side doubled their advantage in bizarre circumstances.

Just when Pools were starting to look dead and buried, the visitors got back into the game five minutes before the break when Reid, who had cut a frustrated figure for large parts of the opening period, headed home his eighth goal of the season. After Pools were awarded a slightly fortuitous free-kick, Maxim Kouogun headed the ball back across the face of goal and Reid's deflected effort beat Laurie Walker from close range.

In another remarkable twist in a strange first 45 minutes, Pools drew level three minutes later when Miley lashed home a well-struck effort from long range. Holohan, desperate to make up for his earlier error, broke forward and his cross was cleared to Miley, who fired home a piledriver of a strike to equalise for the visitors.

Pools were doing their best to get the influential Sinclair involved as often as possible and the York loanee went close five minutes after the restart, cutting inside and drilling an ambitious effort wide of Walker's far post from distance.

Having been shellshocked at half time, Solihull started to grow back into the game and Darius Lipsiuc lashed a speculative strike into the side-netting after 63 minutes.

Pools were dealt a big blow following what looked like a serious injury to Luke Charman. Mere minutes after the attacker's introduction, he went down after an awkward fall and was stretchered off to be replaced by Sam Folarin.

Featherstone's side went ahead seven minutes from time when Sinclair capped an impressive performance with his first Pools goal from close range. After a long delay caused by Charman's injury, the visitors broke forward and the recently-introduced Matty Daly picked out Sinclair, one of five former Moors men in the Pools side, to poke home at the back post and make it 3-2.

Solihull substitute Bradley Stevenson forced a low save from Hayes late on, with the 26-year-old getting down well before parrying the ball clear of danger.

The hosts pressed into 13 minutes of added time and Ben Worman flashed an effort wide with Hayes scrambling but Pools added a fourth through Sinclair, who beat Walker with a low free-kick.

There was still time for one final twist as substitute Emmanuel Sonupe pulled one back after Stevenson struck the woodwork from the penalty spot but Pools held on to secure a valuable three points in remarkable circumstances.

Pools now turn their attention to Wednesday night's much-anticipated visit of rivals Carlisle.

Pools (4-2-3-1): Hayes; Benn, McNally (c) (sub, Parkes, 48), Kouogun, John; Hunter, Miley; Campbell (sub, Daly, 82), Holohan (sub, Charman, 67 (sub, Folarin, 82)), Sinclair; Reid (sub, Caton, 67)