Pool 3 Hartshead 2

POOL kept their slender hopes of West Yorkshire League Premier Division survival alive with this hard-fought victory.

Their early pressure paid off when a powerful Tom Fleming shot was handled on the line by a defender who was then sent off.

The resulting Tom Smith penalty was well saved by the Hartshead keeper, but Richard Bull was alert, following up to complete the job and give Pool the lead.

Their joy though was short lived, an unstoppable low drive giving Hartshead an equaliser.

A clever lob from an intercepted clearance then gave them the lead which they took into half-time.

With Pool’s first-choice keeper suspended, and stand in injured, 16-year-old Dan Swales stepped into the breach.

A quiet first half, made a superb diving save somehow turning a powerful goal bound shot round the post.

This was the turning point of the match as Pool fought back strongly. A fine shot from Nick Hewitt hitting the roof of the net for the equaliser.

Fleming got onto the end of a Smith corner to head home well from distance as the Wharfdeale FA Cup winners celebrated another important victory.