Hartlepool United lost in extra time, giving up a two-goal lead, to suffer their first loss of the new National League season. Joe Grey’s brace gave Pools a two goal lead as they got off to a fantastic start. However, they lost Tom Parkes to injury and then Jack Hunter, who was sent off after receiving two consecutive yellow cards. Darren Sarll’s team was defeated despite a valiant effort by the visitors thanks to goals from energetic replacement Matt Ward, a deflected strike by Tunji Akinola, and a winner from Harry Beautyman in the 92nd minute.
Darren Sarll, the manager of Pools, was making his first visit back to Woking since leaving in November of last year. This was his second visit to one of his old haunts this month after leading his team to a 1-0 victory over Yeovil in Somerset on the first day of play.
Sarll managed the Cards for eighteen months, taking the Surrey team to the National League playoffs in his first season before stepping down in the middle of the next season following a run of eight losses in ten games.
Woking, on the other hand, dropped their opening two games before winning the next two, crushing struggling Ebbsfleet 3-0 over the weekend.
Louis Stephenson was replaced by the seasoned Kieron Freeman in Sarll’s three changes from the Wealdstone match, as the adolescent defender had a rough 45 minutes on Saturday.
After bringing his perfect calm and poise to the engine room during his half-time introduction against the Stones, Nicky Featherstone took Anthony Mancini’s position in midfield. That was the veteran’s 418th game for Pools, earning him the club’s sixth most appearance maker of all time.
As Pools got ready for their second game in 72 hours, Billy Sass-Davies took over as captain in the middle of defence. Sarll was eager to give the 34-year-old a break. Pools fans will never forget the August bank holiday weekend of last year, when they lost Dan Dodds and Mancini and started to fall down the standings.
Sass-Davies, who played for the Cards under Sarll last year, made an impressive first start against Tamworth in midweek.
Woking, who qualified for the National League on the last day of the previous season, had a difficult summer and nearly went bankrupt. However, owner Drew Volpe was willing to sell the team for just £1 and was able to keep them afloat with the help of a £600,000 loan from
Three changes were made by manager Micahel Doyle from his team’s convincing victory over Ebbsfleet: Ben Wynter, Jermaine Anderson, and Lewis Walker (son of former England center-half Des) replaced the injured Timi Odusina, a beloved former Pools defender in Surrey.
While center-half Max Dyche is the son of Everton manager Sean, Woking captain Dale Gorman was a Stevenage apprentice under Sarll.
The Cards were fundraising for Gateshead skipper Greg Olley, who broke his leg in the Heed’s game against Woking following a strong challenge by Dion Kelly-Evans; Olley later took to social media to confirm that he bore no ill-feeling towards Kelly-Evans and that he was beginning the first stages of his recovery.
Joe Grey gave Pools the perfect start, as they went up two goals in just seven minutes.
After just two minutes, the visitors seized the lead when Grey completed a flowing play after an ingenious flick by the excellent Kieron Freeman.
Woking captain Dale Gorman was Sarll’s Stevenage trainee, while center-half Max Dyche is the son of Everton manager Sean.
The Cards were raising money for Gateshead captain Greg Olley, who suffered a broken leg during the Heeds’ match against Woking due to a forceful challenge from Dion Kelly-Evans. Olley later posted on social media to clarify that he had no animosity towards Kelly-Evans and that the first phases of his recuperation had begun.
Pools got off to the ideal start thanks to Joe Grey, as they scored twice in the first seven minutes.
In barely two minutes, Grey’s brilliant flick following an intricate play by Kieron Freeman gave the visitors the lead.
Jack Hunter was sent two yellow cards in quick succession, reducing Pools to 10 men for the second time in three games. Suddenly, the home crowd was getting into the game and Darren Sarll’s team had their work cut out for them.
Despite a few scary moments, especially when David Ferguson deflected Dale Gorman’s free-kick towards Joel Dixon’s near post and the custodian did a great job to turn it behind, the visitors remained unwavering until halftime. The man in the middle waived away Woking’s pleas, even though they thought the ball might have deflected off his shoulder.
Lewis Walker was beat to a through ball by Joel Dixon, who did well to hold off him during a tense period in added time.
When Dale Gorman’s free kick went just wide of Joel Dixon’s far post on the hour, Pools managed to hold on and even survive a terrifying moment. Sass-Davies’ rare act of recklessness saw him give up the free kick after diving in on the edge of the box.
After fumbling the ball at the back post, Matt Ward ultimately fired beyond Dixon to give Woking a point with 23 minutes remaining in normal time; this was essentially the first time all afternoon that Pools gave the visitors too much time in the box.
The home team was giving it their all against Pools, but Manny Onariase and Billy Sass-Davies produced some outstanding last-ditch defending.
Even with a stubborn effort from the visitors, Woking levelled the score after ten minutes from
Lewis Walker came near for Woking as they pushed forward in quest of a winner, but their hopeful plea for a penalty was denied.
As time ran out, Woking piece after Woking corner was headed wide by substitute Deon Moore; it was another missed opportunity for Pools as the Guyana international should have scored.
Even though the 10 men put out a determined attempt, Woking’s substitute Harry Beautyman won the match in the second minute of extra time thanks to further excellent work from former Ipswich player Matt Ward, who cut the ball back after beating two defenders with a driving run to the byline.
For the second consecutive August bank holiday, Pools lost a two goal lead, which was a devastating ending. Despite all of their fighting
Pools: Ferguson; Featherstone (sub, Sloggett, 65), Hunter, Sheron; Grey (sub, Mancini, 84), Dieseruvwe, Campbell (sub, Robinson, 65), Dixon; Freeman (sub, Stephenson, 81), Sass-Davies, Parkes (c) (sub, Onariase, 18).
Woking: Gorman (c), Andrews, Akinola, Jaaskelainen, Moss, Wynter (Ward, 45), Harries, Dyche, Jones (sub, Lewis, 26 (sub, Kendall, 45)); Anderson (Beautyman, 61); Walker (Moore, 66).
A total of 2,646 (203).
