A heartbreaking last-minute equaliser from FC Hartlepool meant the points were shared last night, with the two sides playing out an entertaining 3-3 draw.
Goals from Nelson Ogbewe, Gary Ormston and Ben Harmison would not be enough for the three points – thanks to an inspired comeback from the away side.
Blue Star headed into the fixture in fine form, with four wins from four, prior to the game – the highlight of those being a 1-0 victory against promotion rivals Horden CW last weekend. FC Hartlepool meanwhile visited Scotswood on the back of three straight defeats with their last win coming against Chester-le-Street Town, three weeks ago.
‘The Star’ would continue their recent trend of starting games slowly and would fall behind just two minutes into the game. As some smart play from FC Hartlepool, would lead to their number three rifling the ball into the bottom corner.
Brian Smith’s side reacted well to the goal, piling the pressure onto the away side – coming close to scoring on a number of occasions.
They would eventually get the goal they desired, with Ogbewe volleying home the equaliser in the 43rd minute. Blue Star would not stop there however grabbing a second goal just two minutes later – when Ormston’s deflected effort nestled into the back of the net.
Ormston and Ogbewe’s late goals meant Blue Star headed into the half-time break ahead on the scoresheet, 2-1.
Blue Star’s trend of starting on the back foot would once again come back to bite them, with FC Hartlepool equalising just four minutes after the restart – thanks to a smart finish from their number fourteen.
Following the equaliser, both teams pushed for a winner with FC Hartlepool coming inches away from scoring in the 60th minute – when their number nine fired a shot off the crossbar.
As the game wore on though, Blue Star’s pressure started to mount with a number of chances falling their way. That pressure would eventually result in a goal with Harmison heading home from a corner in the 74th minute.
Just as the game seemed as if it would peter out for Blue Star victory, a late corner would result in Euan Anderson handballing the ball in the box – handing Hartlepool a last-minute penalty. Number fourteen would step up to the spot and cooly dispatch his penalty into the roof of the Blue Star net – to send the Hartlepool fans into a frenzy.
There would be no time for a Blue Star reply with the referee soon blowing the final whistle and sending each side home with a point, 3-3.