Town Hart-Breakers

A two-goal victory flattered Roy Evans' side and Hartlepool certainly belied their lowly league status.

The home side certainly needed Matt Heywood's 74th-minute header to give them some breathing space because until that point the prospect of a chilly Tuesday night replay in the north east lurked menacingly.

Town scored three goals at home for the first time this season but it masked a nervy performance.

An alarming ability to concede sloppy goals gave the Third Division side hope where there should have been none.

Two goals in the space of 60 first-half seconds gave Evans' men a comfortable cushion but Town's players immediately switched off, gifted their opponents a goal and had to work extremely hard to preserve their lead and secure a second round spot.

Although Evans was without Bobby Howe and Wayne Carlisle, David Duke and Steve Robinson were restored to the side following suspension.

Mark Robinson made his first start at right wing-back for more than six months and put in a solid performance.

Mr Versatile, Danny Invincible was switched to left midfield, filling the void created by Carlisle's absence.

It was the Australian who carved out the first opening after three minutes.

He burst through the static Hartlepool defence but his powerful shot was deflected and looped into the arms of keeper Anthony Williams.

The visitors fought back and Gordon Watson pounced on a defensive error to shoot goalwards from the edge of the box.

Fortunately for Town, Andy Gurney was in the right place to deflect the ball behind for a corner.

The home side really should have taken the lead in the 13th minute but Giuliano Grazioli flicked his header wide from Duke's left wing cross.

Town fans were poised to celebrate Eric Sabin's first goal on 18 minutes.

The Frenchman evaded two challenges but pushed the ball just a fraction too far, allowing Williams to block his shot for a corner.

Grazioli volleyed over the top before referee Danson waved away Town penalty claims as Invincible collapsed in the heap following an aerial clash with Chris Westwood in the 24th minute.

Grazioli was a whisker away from netting his seventh of the season following a Mark Robinson cross nine minutes later but Town finally broke the deadlock in the 36th minute.

Sabin charged into the box and was unceremoniously hauled down by Jon Bass.

Invincible was not given the chance to atone for his miss at Blackpool as Razor Ruddock took the ball, placed it on the spot and coolly drilled a shot into the bottom corner.

The County Ground faithful had barely stopped celebrating Ruddock's goal when Town struck again.

Williams failed to hold a Sabin cross from the right and Invincible pounced at the far post to ram the ball into the roof of the net.

But a 2-0 deficit failed to dishearten Hartlepool and Chris Turner's side battled back to make it three goals in little more than 120 seconds.

Town failed to clear a corner and after a touch of ping-pong in the box, Darrell Clarke pounced to fire home from 12 yards.

The goal gave the visitors an extra injection of confidence and they started to knock the ball around with some composure but couldn't find the key to unlock the Town defence again.

Sabin headed home on 44 minutes but the flag for offside had long since been made.

Hartlepool seemed far eager to start the second half than Town, as Evans' men seemed to take an age before emerging from the tunnel.

Minds were clearly still in the dressing room as the visitors poured forward and only the intervention of the excellent Matt Heywood thwarted Mark Tinkler from troubling Bart Griemink.

Hartlepool substitute Graeme Lee then headed wide from a 51st minute free kick as Town desperately searched for a third goal to ease the fraying nerves.

Ruddock's header on the hour was comfortably saved by Williams but still the visitors threatened to prise an equaliser.

Lee miskicked when well placed in the box and Heywood was the saviour again to block Watson's far post header on 69 minutes.

Watson and Richie Humphreys combined well for the visitors and the Town defenders had to work extremely hard to nullify the threat from the experienced pair.

Town simply could not establish a rhythm and as the County Ground became enshrouded in the November gloom, the tie remained very much in the balance.

Roy Evans decided to steady the ship by replacing Grazioli with Paul McAreavey.

The midfield honours were pretty much shared with Steve Robinson and Matt Hewlett enjoying a good tussle with Mark Tinkler and Tommy Widdrington.

Steve Robinson scuffed a 71st minute shot wide of Williams' right post but the mounting tension was lifted when Matt Heywood opened his account for the season with a terrific header 16 minutes from time.

A ball from the left was flicked on and Heywood rose majestically to power a header into the top left hand corner of Williams' net.

But still Hartlepool refused to throw in the towel and the final 15 minutes proved anything but comfortable for the home side.

Matt Hewlett was left with egg on his face following a 77th-minute corner.

A classic contender for the 'what happened next slot' on A Question of Sport, the midfielder managed to kick the corner flag while trying to deliver the set piece.

But as the match moved into the final 10 minutes, the Third Division side should have pulled it back to 3-2.

Bad luck and bad finishing combined to thwart Messrs Humphreys and Watson.

Watson thrashed a shot against the bar and the rebound fell invitingly for Humphreys. But the former Sheffield Wednesday man was left clutching his head in his hands as he too rattled the bar from close range.

The double-miss finally seemed to convince Hartlepool that it was not going to be their day and Town finished strongly.

Duke weaved in from the left before cracking a shot just wide of the far post and Hewlett troubled the Town End roof with a shot deep into stoppage time.

But cup football is all about results rather than performances and Town did just enough to get through.

However, I wouldn't advise booking that hotel room in Cardiff just yet.