Seventh-tier Salford City held Hartlepool United to a 1-1 draw and are now in the hat for the Emirates FA Cup third round but joint manager Anthony Johnson insists the draw felt like a defeat.
It is a mark of how far Salford – who upset Notts County in the previous round – have come as they played out a draw against a side that are 52 places ahead in the football pyramid.
Salford City 1-1 Hartlepool
Emirates FA Cup
Second round
Moor Lane
Friday 4 December 2015
Winning sides receive £27,000 from The FA prize fund
Rhys Oates put the visitors in front at Moor Lane with a penalty but the Ammies dominated the first half and levelled thanks to Stephen O’Halloran.
And while Pools wasted two glorious chances to win it late on and Salford – in whom brothers Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt hold a 50% stake – were left to rue what might have been.
“It feels like a defeat. We were really impressed with how we played and we thought we did enough to go and win the game,” said Johnson.
Watch video highlights of Salford City v Hartlepool
“I know they missed a couple of headers, but we were superb second half. It was not a game for the purists but we had more of the territory and a little bit gutted we didn’t win the game to be honest – I thought our fitness levels were first class.
And Johnson’s co-manager Bernard Morley agreed with his colleague's assessment.
“The plus point for us is that we are in the draw and you can see that we have come a long way, I don’t think there was much difference between the two teams,” he said.
The Emirates FA Cup third round draw takes place on Monday
“They missed a few sitters, but at the end of the day we have got to be happy, even if it does feel like a defeat. Hopefully the bosses will be kind to us and the lads can get the time off for the replay.”
The replay looks set to take place on 15 of December and Pools boss Ronnie Moore has warned his side that more of the same will not be tolerated – Rakish Bingham and Scott Fenwick both wasting glorious chances to win it late on.
“My voice was killing me at half time after having a go at them”
Ronnie Moore Hartlepool United manager
“We have been so lucky, we never turned up in the first half. We had one shot and that was the penalty,” said the Hartlepool boss.
“You cannot come here and do that, you have got to roll your sleeves up and have a right good go.
“My voice was killing me at half time after having a go at them, I don’t like shouting and screaming all the time.
“We were a bit better second half, not good, but a bit better and still had a couple of chances.
"It was unacceptable – I could have gone on there and given more than some of the players in the first half.”
Find out which ball to watch out for in Monday's Emirates FA Cup third round draw
