Salford fight back to earn replay

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04 Dec 2015

By Mandeep Sanghera BSports

Salford City's FA Cup adventure will continue after the part-timers drew with League Two Hartlepool to set up a second-round replay.

The Northern Premier League Premier Division side, who are co-owned by five former Manchester United players, went behind to a Rhys Oates penalty.

Stephen O'Halloran equalised when he drove in a shot from close range.

Rakish Bingham and Scott Fenwick wasted chances for Hartlepool before James Poole went close at the other end.

Salford - in whom brothers Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt hold a 50% stake - play in the seventh tier of English football and knocked out League One Notts County in the first round.

They produced another valiant effort against Hartlepool, who were beaten by non-league Blyth Spartans last season, but neither side could find the finishing touch in a physical match.

The replay will take place on 15 December, with both teams entering Monday's third-round draw, in which they could come up against a Premier League side.

Salford make light of 52-place gap

Paul Scholes (centre) watches on from the stands at Moor Lane

Paul Scholes (centre) watches on at Moor Lane

Neither of the Neville brothers were at Moor Lane at the end of a week in which Gary was appointed manager of Valencia, where Phil is already a coach.

But Scholes and Butt were present to see their side recover from falling a goal behind as Oates, on his 21st birthday, netted clinically from the penalty spot after being fouled by Andrew Dawson.

Salford responded well and deservedly equalised, ending the first half with 60% of possession as they made light of the 52 places between the two sides.

After the break, home keeper Jay Lynch produced a smart, one-handed save to keep out a fierce Jake Gray strike before Bingham nodded high over the crossbar from four yards.

Fenwick then horribly mistimed a close-range, far-post header when unmarked, while Lewis Hardcastle, Chris Lynch and Poole, playing against his former club, went close for the home side.

Hartlepool showing 'unacceptable'

Hartlepool manager Ronnie Moore was far from impressed by his side's performance.

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FA Cup Salford 1-1 Hartlepool: Ronnie Moore fumes at lack of effort

"We've been so, so lucky," he told the BSports. "We didn't turn up in the first half - our only shot was the penalty. My voice is killing me from shouting at half-time.

"We were a bit better in the second half, not good, but we still probably had the best chances in the game. It's unacceptable. These are professional players. We've brought a crowd here, the game was on TV.

"I could have gone out there and given more than some of them in that first half - honestly.

"In the end we are happy we are still in the hat. But I'm not having that. And believe me, the players know."

'It feels like a defeat for Salford'

Despite ensuring their place in the third-round draw and dominating for long periods against a team ranked three divisions above them, Salford co-manager Anthony Johnson said the result "felt like a defeat".

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Draw felt like defeat - Salford managers

"I thought we did enough to win the game," he said. "We were superb in the second half. It wasn't one for the purists but I feel gutted we didn't win.

"We've always said, no matter who we play against, we will compete. No-one will ever outwork us. We are massively old school in our coaching and we love working on fitness. We only get two sessions a week.

"I just said to Chris Lynch coming off - we are in the hat for the third round of the FA Cup. That is unbelievable, Manchester City, Manchester United, whoever.

"We know the replay will be tough but we are up for it."

Pundit analysis

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy on BSports One: "It was thoroughly enjoyable. Spirit, endeavour and some quality as well. The second half was much better from Hartlepool, but Salford played really well throughout. They can be really proud of that performance."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (4)

Salford City

01 Lynch
02 Lynch
06 Dawson Booked
05 Howson
03 O'Halloran
15 Hardcastle
08 Burton
11 Allen (Mwasile - 85' )
04 Stopforth
12 Poole
09 Webber (Hulme - 79' )

Substitutes

10 Hulme
13 Dootson
14 Giverin
16 Moses
17 Mwasile
18 Kebbie
19 Sharp

Hartlepool United

01 Carson
21 Duckworth
06 Bates
26 Jackson
03 Carroll Booked
30 Gray
16 Featherstone
02 Magnay
15 Oates (Walker - 87' )
32 Mandron (Bingham - 55' )
17 Fenwick

Substitutes

05 Harrison
08 Walker
09 Bingham
13 Bartlett
20 Jones
22 Nearney
23 Smith

Ref: Gavin Ward

Att: 1,400

Match Stats

Possession 57 43

Shots

16 13

On target

5 2

Corners

8 6

Fouls

8 14

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Salford City 1, Hartlepool United 1.

90:00 +3:04 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Salford City 1, Hartlepool United 1.

90:00 +1:02

Attempt blocked. Rakish Bingham (Hartlepool United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.

87:55

Attempt missed. James Poole (Salford City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.

87:18 Booking

Booking Jake Carroll (Hartlepool United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

87:02

Joe Mwasile (Salford City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

87:02

Foul by Jake Carroll (Hartlepool United).

86:41

Attempt blocked. Scott Burton (Salford City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lewis Hardcastle.

86:22 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Hartlepool United. Brad Walker replaces Rhys Oates.

85:25

Steven Howson (Salford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

85:25

Foul by Scott Fenwick (Hartlepool United).

84:20 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Salford City. Joe Mwasile replaces Richie Allen.