Despite an early goal from Oliver Finney, Altrincham went into half-time ahead. Joe Grey's impact off the bench ensured Pools had something to show for their efforts in midweek.
Pools manager John Askey named two changes to the starting 11 with Kieran Burton making his first start in the blue and white, while Josh Umerah replaced Grey in attack.
Burton, a standout performer for the visitors, was involved straight away with a sliding block to deny Chris Conn-Clarke.
Conn-Clarke made his mark early as a danger on the right flank - this time the Altrincham winger jinked inside before drilling a shot wide on 11 minutes.
Hartepool finally opened fire on 15 minutes as Tom Crawford took a free-kick short to Umerah, who advanced into the opposition box and curled a strike past the post.
Moments later, the scoring was opened. Burton played a pinpoint ball for Finney to run onto, and the midfielder chipped Altrincham keeper Ethan Ross at his front post.
Pools didn’t stop there as Mani Dieseruvwe tried his luck from distance, though this time Ross managed to collect.
Askey’s outfit were only ahead for eight minutes. Conn-Clark tricked his way through and, despite Manny Onariase defending off the line, the ball sat up for Isaac Marriott to stab home for the Robins.
Tom Crawford carved out an opening for Pools on 35 minutes after winning possession in the final third, but the midfielder failed to score as Ross made a solid block at close-Dane.
The last chance of the first half fell Altrincham’s way and it was an important one. Lewis Baines picked up possession on the edge of the area and blasted past Pete Jameson to put the hosts in front.
Pools came out with intent in the second half. Their first opportunity saw David Ferguson’s corner fall to Charlie Seaman but the right-back’s effort was blocked by goalscorer Baines.
Umerah then created an opportunity for Askey’s side but the striker’s long-distance attempt was stopped by Ross in the Robins net.
At the other end, Elliot Osborne unleashed fire in the 64th minute but Jameson was on hand to tip the shot past the post.
There were penalty appeals for Hartlepool with 68 on the clock. Burton found Dieseruvwe who was upended by Jake Cooper, though the referee gave a free-kick directly on the edge of the box. From that, Seaman’s attempt clipped the wall before sailing off target.
Altrincham made a substitution with Justin Amaluzor entering the fray and the forward forced the Hartlepool defence into a mistake, however Jameson prevented a third.
The second period was largely dominated by Pools and they should’ve equalised on the 74 mark. Seaman burst down the right-hand side of the box before driving a ball across the face of goal, inches away from an on-coming Dieseruvwe.
That leveller came only a few minutes later. Dieseruvwe provided fresh substitute Grey who beat Ross and made it 2-2.
Pools wanted more. Crawford, Grey and Dieseruvwe put the Altrincham keeper to work in the dying minutes but proceedings were still level as the clock ticked 90.
Pools: Jameson, Burton (Dolan 90+3), Onariase, Hendrie, Ferguson, Seaman, Wallace (Aghatise 88), Crawford, Finney (Grey 62), Umerah, Dieseruvwe
Subs (not used): Dixon, Paterson
Goals: Finney (16), Grey (77)