Hartlepool United live to fight another day in the Emirates FA Cup after Adam Campbell’s first goal for the club snatched a replay against Brackley Town.
Campbell’s fiercely-struck 86th-minute equaliser grabbed a 1-1 draw in the fourth qualifying round at the Prestige Group Stadium against the impressive National League North outfit who had taken a deserved first-half lead through George Carline.
They must do it all again at St James Park on Tuesday evening and, with the draw taking place on Monday night, the two teams will know what tie awaits the winners.
Gavin Cowan’s side were attempting to emulate Chester who knocked out Pools at the same stage last season.
They were bright in attack with Morgan Roberts bringing a seventh-minute save from Brad Young who tipped his shot over.
The midfielder was put through on goal in the 31st minute too but Young came out sharply to save.
But Town were not to be denied and they led at the Town End in the 33rd minute when Carline volleyed the ball superbly into Young’s left-corner from 18 yards.
They squandered a chance to go 2-0 up when Scott Pollock squared to Roberts, who could only shoot straight at Young.
In reply, Pools were unlucky when last week’s hat-trick hero Mani Dieseruvwe hit Jonny Maxted’s right-post with a close-range lunge from Anthony Mancini’s low ball in from the left.
After the break, Brackley threatened again when Danny Newton saw his shot blocked and Young foiled Roberts again on the hour when they midfielder seized on an undercut back pass.
Boss Darren Sarll made a triple substitution, sending on Billy Sass-Davies, Nicky Featherstone and Roshaun Mathurin and it brought greater impetus from the hosts.
It also raised the crowd who saw Pools win corner after corner and witnessed the away goal survive two mighty goalmouth scrambles on 65 and 81 minutes while there were loud appeals for a penalty after what appeared to be a handball.
Dieseruvwe’s shot-on-the-turn brought a save from Maxted, who was a Pools player 10 years ago, joining at the same time as Campbell made a brief loan move to the Vic.
But Maxted was eventually beaten five minutes from time.
Dieseruvwe’s shot was blocked by a defender but the ball ran to Campbell who blasted his effort past the keeper to his left.
Brackley complained bitterly to the officials that there was an offside but referee Darius Bradley awarded the goal after consulting with his assistant.
There were further attacks at both ends in the remaining minutes but no more goals which means the sides will replay at St James park on Tuesday night.
Pools: Young, Dodds, Waterfall (Sass-Davies 54′), Parkes, Ferguson (Campbell 76′), Sheron, Sloggett (Featherstone 54′), Grey, Mancini, Charman (Mathurin 54′), Dieseruvwe
Subs (not used): Smith, Onariase, Steel
