Hartlepool United shared the spoils with Tamworth in a 1-1 draw at The Lamb Ground in the Enterprise National League.
After Stefan Mols’ penalty in the second half was ruled out for a stuttered run-up, Adam Campbell gave Pools the lead minutes later. Just past the hour mark, Mols found an equaliser for the Lambs.
Nicky Featherstone made four changes from last weekend’s defeat to Aldershot Town, as Cameron John, Adam Campbell, Luke Charman and Jack Hunter started in Tamworth.
Pools started brightly, with John’s lofted ball releasing Charman on goal three minutes in, whose effort curled wide.
The visitors maintained their pressure in the opening 30 minutes, but struggled to test Jas Singh in the hosts’ goal.
In the final moments of the first half, Nick Hayes was called into action with a super stop, instinctively denying Dan Creaney from inside Pools’ six-yard box.
Tamworth started the second period positively and, on 53 minutes, were awarded a penalty for a handball in the area.
However, in bizarre circumstances, Mols’ converted spot-kick was ruled out and Pools were awarded a free-kick, with the referee penalising the player for stuttering in his run-up.
Not long after, Featherstone’s side took the lead. Following Charman’s driving run from the halfway line, the ball was worked to Gavan Holohan, who fed the ball out to Campbell. From there, the number 10’s powerful strike back across goal soared into the top-left corner.
Pools’ advantage was short-lived, though, as Mols levelled for the Lambs on 61 minutes, firing home from Ronan Maher’s cross with a first-time volley.
Five minutes later, Tamworth almost had a second when, after a scramble in the box, Hayes stopped Creaney’s attempt from close range.
In the seventh minute of added time, Pools broke as Campbell fed through Charman, who cut inside and got a low shot off, seeing his strike saved.
