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Match report and highlights: Hartlepool United 4-3 Sutton United

Hartlepool United 4-3 Sutton United

Hartlepool came from two goals behind to stun Sutton United in a seven goal thriller at Victoria Park last weekend.

Pools went into half-time 2-0 down after goals from Jayden Harris and Ashley Nadesan put the visitors in front. The goals prompted early changes just 25 minutes in for Darren Sarll’s side as Mani Dieseruvwe and Joe Grey were introduced. Grey then set up Luke Charman ten minutes after the break to get one back for the home side before Dieseruvwe grabbed the equaliser just minutes later. 

Dieseruvwe then got a second to put Hartlepool 3-2 up with 20 minutes to play, before Lewis Simper scored, to bring the game back level with less than ten to go.

Just two minutes later it was super sub Dieseruvwe again, who made it 4-3, securing his hat trick for only the second time in a Hartlepool shirt.

Hartlepool went into Saturdays fixture off the back of four consecutive losses in the league, losing 1-0 away to Forest Green in their most recent outing. 

After going two goals behind it was Charman who got the hosts one back, as substitutes Dieseruvwe and Grey linked up on the right hand side, before Grey delivered his cross to the back post, where Charman found himself completely unmarked to head home on 55 minutes. 

Dieseruvwe was involved again just two minutes later as he latched onto a long ball from defence finding himself one on one with the keeper, before finishing low into the bottom right corner bringing the game level at 2-2 with 30 minutes to play. 

With twenty minutes left on the clock Dieseruvwe won a corner, which was then swung into the back post and met by Luke Waterfall, who headed the ball back across where Dieseruvwe smashed the ball in on the volley from six yards, getting his second of the game and putting Pools 3-2 up. 

After taking the lead, a lapse in concentration from Pools with just seven minutes to play, allowed Simper to finish low from the left of the box into the bottom right corner bringing the game back level. 

Time was ticking for Sarll’s men with five minutes to play, however some fantastic feet from Nicky Featherstone on the byline allowed him space to chip the ball to the back post where it was that man again, Dieseruvwe who headed home from six yards.

Dieseruvwe got his third of the game, with only his second hat trick in a Hartlepool shirt and secured all three points for Pools.

A brilliant turnaround after going two goals behind, as the resilient Hartlepool side got their first home win of the season after seven attempts.

Hartlepool turn to FA Cup action next, as they face Brackley Town at home in the fourth round of the competition.