A late turnaround saw Hartlepool United beat 10-man Gateshead 2-1 at the Prestige Group Stadium, making it back-to-back wins in the Enterprise National League. Â
Gateshead took the lead early in the first half through Louis Storey, before the goalscorer was sent off for a reckless challenge in the second period.
Alex Reid equalised with around 10 minutes of normal time to play and, as the game headed to injury time, Matty Daly found the winner for Pools.
Nicky Featherstone named an unchanged lineup from last weekend’s victory at home to Altrincham, with Ashley Nathaniel-George replacing Joe Aungiers on the bench.
The visitors put themselves in front 11 minutes in, after an inviting corner from Keaton Ward was glanced home into the bottom-right corner by Louis Storey.
Midway into the first period, Luke Charman was at the heart of two opportunities as Pools searched for an equaliser; cutting inside from the left on both occasions but struggling to test Tiernan Brooks.
Just before the half-hour mark, a curling ball from Jay Benn released Reid down the left-hand side of the Heed box, his final strike fizzing wide of the far post.
Pools were handed a major boost in the game when the visitors were reduced to 10 men shortly after the break; Storey received a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Nathan Sheron in the 51st minute.
Around the hour mark, the home team probed as Jamie Miley’s flick into the path of Daly left the substitute one-on-one, but his attempt drifted wide of the bottom-left corner.
Moments later, Reid very narrowly failed to connect with Charman’s teasing cross to test Brooks from close range.
On 72 minutes, Featherstone’s side attacked once more when Sam Folarin capped off a neat piece of skill with a cross met by Charman, whose header was parried away, before Reiss McNally’s effort was blocked on the rebound.
Despite Pools’ pressure, Gateshead threatened on the counterattack in the 76th minute, with Miley running the length of the half to vitally intercept Bailey Chadwick’s low cross towards Ward.
Not long after, though, Pools levelled the match. After Danny Johnson’s initial poke was saved, Reid was the first to react in the box, firing home on 81 minutes.
A second for the hosts very nearly came just before injury time, as Johnson seemed to have guided Folarin’s cross just over the line with an outstretched leg, but the referee ruled no goal.
However, Pools’ frustration was short-lived as, a minute later, the hosts took the lead. Benn’s delivery towards Johnson was cleared only to Daly, whose thumping strike arrowed into the top-left corner to secure Pools consecutive home wins for the first time this season.
Pools: Hayes, Benn, Parkes © (Brown 74′), Kouogun, McNally, Campbell (Daly 57′), Charman, Sheron, Hunter (Folarin 57′), Miley (Johnson 79′), Reid
Unused subs: Smith, Ferguson, Nathaniel-George
Goals: Reid (81′), Daly (90′)
Attendance: 4243
