Match Reports

Pools rescue a point at the death

Jamie Miley made a dream debut to snatch a point for Hartlepool United from the jaws of defeat at Braintree Town.

Trailing 1-0 to a 71st-minute Jermaine Francis goal, Pools threw everything at the Iron in a desperate late assault at the home goal.

It looked like not being Pools’ day but in the seventh minute of stoppage time, super-sub Miley fired into the net to send the travelling fans into ecstasy.

The dramatic 1-1 draw moved Lennie Lawrence’s side up to 12th in the table and three points from the play-offs, but the top six are some way off.

Lennie Lawrence recalled Luke Waterfall, Nicky Featherstone and Adam Campbell to the starting 11 from the midweek defeat at Barnet, while Gary Madine was restored to the frontline alongside Mani Dieseruvwe as the manager made four changes.

Dan Dodds, Billy Sass-Davies, Jack Hunter and Greg Sloggett dropped down to the bench as Lawrence and his coaches opted for an attack-minded side.

Braintree, one of the division’s fastest starters, were almost ahead in two minutes but an outstanding save from Adam Smith denied John Akinde.

New loan signing Reyes Cleary was involved in almost all of the first-half opportunities for the sky blues.

First, he dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box before forcing a low save from keeper Henry Gray after Luke Charman’s cross was flicked on by Madine.

Cleary, who had scored twice against Braintree in the National League Cup for West Brom in December, went agonisingly close in the 29th minute when his shot hit the foot of the post.

Two minutes before the break, Cleary turned provider when he crossed for Dieseruvwe, only for the striker to head over from close-range.

Braintree also had their moments of threat with Tom Blackwell and Kyrell Lisbie going close.

Seconds after the re-start the luckless Cleary was denied by the woodwork again after his shot struck the inside of the post and dribbled along the goal-line before rolling out for a goal kick.

Luck was very much going against Pools and 10 minutes later they had the ball in the home net when Charman put away Cleary’s cross, only for it to be disallowed for offside.

Midway through the half, Lawrence made a double change, sending on debutant Miley and recent arrival Sam Folarin for Featherstone and Charman.

Cleary was close again when he beat his opponent but his effort was deflected for a corner.

Having gone close to going behind, Braintree took full advantage of their let-offs to grow into the contest.

They took the lead 20 minutes from time when Francis danced his way through on the edge of the area before putting his shot past Smith.

Pools gave it everything but could not find the incisive pass or shot, though in the first of six added minutes Henry Gray made a big save from Cleary.

The sky blues kept at it and when they won their sixth corner of the afternoon, goalkeeper Smith went forward into the home box.

A seventh corner followed immediately and Braintree’s goal led a charmed life with Waterfall’s header being saved before Miley smashed the crossbar.

It looked like the Iron would somehow stay strong but when an eighth corner came in the seventh added minute, David Ferguson’s delivery was on the money and Miley lashed in the loose ball.

Pools: Smith, Sheron (Dodds 77), Waterfall, Parkes, Ferguson, Charman (Folarin 67), Campbell, Featherstone (Miley 67), Cleary, Madine, Dieseruvwe

Subs (not used): Young, Sass-Davies, Hunter, Sloggett

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