Watch highlights of Friday's game in the Emirates FA Cup second round
Salford City are in the hat for the third round of the Emirates FA Cup but they must win at Victoria Park if they are to make it there after holding League Two’s Hartlepool United to a 1-1 draw on Friday night.
Rhys Oates’ first-half penalty put the visitors in front at Moor Lane but Stephen O’Halloran’s smart finish – his first for the club – soon levelled proceedings for the seventh-tier side who upset Notts County in the previous round.
Salford City 1-1 Hartlepool United
Emirates FA Cup
Second round
Moor Lane
Friday 4 December 2015
Winning sides receive £27,000 from The FA prize fund
After the interval Pools pushed hard and Rakish Bingham and Scott Fenwick both wasted glorious chances to win it but Salford fought hard and will take much confidence to for the replay.
The hosts dominated the early stages but it was Oates – on his 21st birthday – who won the spot-kick with a driving run before dusting himself down to roll in the opener.
Chris Lynch then came close with a header across goal for Salford but they were soon level, O’Halloran reacting quickest to smash home from Andy Dawson’s knockdown.
Friday night lights at Salford City
It was level at the break but after the interval Jake Gray fired a warning shot for Pools, stinging the palms of Jay Lynch in the Salford goal.
The hosts were not going away though and Lewis Hardcastle should have done better after good work from Richie Allen.
Rhys Oates, left, celebrates his opener
But as the game wore on the League Two side looked stronger and Bingham and Fenwick both missed glorious close-range headers with the goal gaping.
Salford came again in the final moments and a free-kick from James Poole whistled agonisingly wide but the two sides had to settle for a draw and replay later this month.
Stephen O'Halloran prods home for Salford City
Salford: Lynch J, Lynch C, Dawson, Howson, O’Halloran, Hardcastle, Burton, Allen (Mwasile 85), Stopforth, Poole, Webber (Hulme 79)
Not used: Dootson, Giverin, Moses, Kebbie, Sharp
Goal: O'Halloran 23
Hartlepool United: Carson, Duckworth, Bates, Jackson, Carroll, Gray, Featherstone, Magnay, Oates (Walker 87), Mandron (Bingham 55), Fenwick
Not used: Harrison, Bartlett, Jones, Nearney, Smith
Goal: Oates 8pen
Referee: Gavin Ward
Attendance: 1,400
