Pools Youth Team needed extra time to squeeze past Lincoln City in an enthralling FA Youth Cup tie at Victoria Park.
Micky Barron's men finally ran out 3-1 winners in front of a decent crowd at The Vic, though City will consider themselves unlucky not to have won the tie in normal time.
Pools began the game brightest and went at their opponents from the off, the impressive Under 16 Steven Snaith first to test the City keeper Kerry Nicholas.
Daniel Johnson also volleyed just wide for Pools, while Antony Wakefield had a shot saved and Chay Liddle powered one just over the bar.
However, the Imps got stronger as the game wore on and defender Jack Davies could have put them in front but put his header wide at the back post.
Pools defended doggedly against some heavy Lincoln pressure and the game headed in to extra time with neither side able to break the deadlock.
It didn't take long for that to happen after the restart though, as Johnson pounced on a loose ball inside the area to fire home and leave keeper Nicholas red-faced.
City almost drew level when substitute Luke Boyce lashed an effort off the post, while Grant Herbert had to be at his best to twice deny Ryan Limb.
At the other end Wakefield was proving a handful and, after seeing one shot saved, he doubled the lead on the counter-attack when his shot bobbled past Nicholas to set off wild celebrations.
Pools were given a warning that the game wasn't totally over when Lincoln pulled one back through Nathan Adams after Limb's shot had cannoned back off the bar.
But Barron's youngsters held on and made the game safe when Wakefield burst through in the dying seconds and clinically found the corner.
Full Time: Pools 3 Lincoln City 1
Pools: Herbert, Purvis, Rowbotham, Marron, Dukes (Ruddy 69), D Johnson, Liddle, Richards, Blackford, Wakefield, Snaith (Dodds 87).
Subs not used: Marshall, Strafford, Mooney.
Lincoln City: Nicholas, Heap, Thomas, Limb, Firzpatrick, Davies, Wilson, Brookbanks (Barker 65), Adams, Hutchison (Boyce 90), Gibson.
Subs not used: Brewer, Draper, Thacker.
