A Luke Charman stunner saw 10-man Hartlepool United come back from behind to beat newly-promoted Hornchurch 2-1 at Victoria Park in the Enterprise National League.
Angelo Balanta’s finish straight after the break was cancelled out by a Ryan Inniss own goal, before Charman’s strike with ten minutes of normal time to go made it back-to-back National League wins for Pools.
Max Merrick and Max Kouogun returned to Pools’ starting line-up following lengthy spells on the sidelines, as Pete Wild made four changes for the clash against the Urchins.
After a quiet opening to the match, Max Clark took aim from distance on 11 minutes, forcing Arthur Nasta into a smart save.
In the 18th minute, James Miley’s corner found Reiss McNally at the back post, but his tame header was gathered by Nasta.
Pools threatened again inside the final five minutes of the first half. Will Harris directed an effort goalward from Nathan Sheron’s low cross, but Nasta again saved comfortably.
In the first minute of the second period, Hornchurch took the lead when Alfie Massey’s looping delivery was guided home by Balanta at the back post.
Pools came agonisingly close to an equaliser on 53 minutes when Neo Eccleston went down the right, picked out Jordan Hugill, who threaded a ball through to Harris inside the box, but his attempt crashed off the post from close range.
Two minutes later, Merrick tipped Myles Weston’s cross shot over the bar, before Wild’s side looked to have levelled. Harris coolly finished into the bottom-right corner from Miley’s delivery – but the goal was ruled out for handball.
Pools were then reduced to 10 men on 68 minutes, after Eccleston received a second yellow card for a late challenge on Jack Baldwin.
Wild’s side continued to press and deservedly drew level four minutes later, when Sheron’s cross towards Harris deflected off Inniss and into the back of the net.
Pools took the lead on 80 minutes through a sublime finish from Charman on the edge of the box.
The goal arrived following excellent work from Sheron to keep the play alive before expertly guiding the ball into the path of our number 11, who curled home into the top-right corner.
Ryan Loft headed just over the bar for the visitors minutes later, before the hosts probed once more in injury time, with Chris Popov’s shot from range bending just wide of the bottom-right corner.
Next up for Pete Wild’s Pools is a trip to face AFC Fylde on Tuesday night in the Enterprise National League.
HUFC XI | Merrick, Kouogun, McNally ©, Miley, Hugill (Charman 75’), Harris (Popov 86’), Eccleston, Sheron, Deeming (Nolan 70’), Clark (Ilunga 70’), Lavelle.
Unused Substitutes | Fisher, Gibson, Hunter.
