Hartlepool United shared the spoils with Wealdstone in the Enterprise National League despite a dominant display at Victoria Park.
After constant pressure throughout the game, Brooklyn Ilunga’s 79th-minute finish put Pools ahead, but the visitors levelled through a Reiss McNally own goal in the 95th minute.
Pete Wild made two changes for today’s clash against the Stones, with Liam Gibson and Jordan Hugill returning to Pools’ starting XI.
The hosts started the game brightly, threatening on five minutes when Cole Deeming’s flash across the box found Jack Nolan, whose low effort stung the gloves of Dante Baptiste.
Moments later, Will Harris’ close-range attempt was saved, before Nathan Sheron fired narrowly wide of the bottom-left corner from the edge of the box.
After Max Clark’s strike sliced over the bar at the half-hour mark, Pools came agonisingly close to the opener a minute later. Deeming’s delivery was just ahead of Harris and Hugill, whose cross shortly after was within inches of being guided home by Clark.
Just before the break, Pools attacked again as Nolan cut inside from the left and took aim, but his effort curled over the bar.
Wild’s side continued their pressure in the second period, with Jamie Miley’s shot towards the near corner denied by Baptiste in the 51st minute.
Minutes later, a Nolan corner was glanced into the path of Gibson by Max Kouogun, but he couldn’t direct his header towards goal from inside the six-yard box.
Two half-chances came the way of Pools around the hour mark, as Clark fired over with a first-time volley, before Harris’ header was saved comfortably by Baptiste.
The hosts found the breakthrough in the 79th minute, when Ilunga, after strong pressing play from Miley, picked up the ball at the edge of the box and clinically fired home into the bottom-right corner – just minutes after coming on.
In the final minute of injury time, Joe Newton’s cross deflected in off McNally to snatch a point for Wealdstone.
Pools return to National League action next Saturday, when they travel to the International Stadium to face Gateshead.
HUFC XI | Merrick, Kouogun, McNally ©, Miley, Hugill (Charman 60’), Harris (Popov 78’), Sheron, Nolan (Ilunga 77’), Gibson (Benn 68’), Deeming, Clark.
Unused subs | Fisher, Hunter, Bondo.
