HARTLEPOOL UNITED, who have been celebrating late goals of late, conceded four minutes into added on time to deny them victory at home to Sutton.

Pools were set for another home win, thanks to Rhys Oates, first-half finish, but were pegged back four and half minutes into five minutes of injury time.

A deep cross from the left was headed up and on by Carl Magnay and substitute Tommy Wright drilled in a volley at the far post.

Pools were on the backfoot in the first-half and keeper Scott Loach was busy, saving early from Jamie Collins and then with his feet to deny Lafayette on 28 minutes.

The home side’s first effort on target was a deep cross from left-back Nicky Deverdics which was straight into keeper Jamie Butler.

But they soon took the lead. Devante Rodney cut in from the left, his low shot was spilled by keeper Jamie Butler – and Rhys Oates followed up to score.

It should have been two and game over on 55 minutes. Jon Franks stole possession, but instead of picking out the unmarked Devante Rodney, his low shot was pushed out by Butler as far as Rodney.

The striker slid in and, from a tight angle, pushed his finish wide.

After Michael Ledger cleared off the line, Wright missed the follow up.

The visitors lost Eastmond in injury time to a suspected fractured ankle, but the ten men – the Us had already made three changes - levelled.

A curling, angled cross found its way to the far post and substitute Wright smacked in.

“There’s been a lot of late goals in the division – Hartlepool have had a couple of them themselves, so it’s a common thing,’’ said visiting boss Paul Doswell.

“In the first-half we had six chances to their one and found ourselves one-down. That was the disappointment, as we played some good stuff and their keeper made saves.

“We were the team looking to try and win the game. But there was a great crowd here, very passionate, and for Sutton these are the days we want to be involved in.’’

Pools boss Harrison said: “It was frustrating, conditions played a huge part. The team with the wind was always putting the opposition under pressure.

“It was hard to get out of it.

“But we started well, they came into it after 20 minutes and then we finished the half well.

“We got to 70-75 minutes and you start to think about defending to see it out – get the second goal and you do it.

“The chance fell to Devante and he didn’t managed to tuck it away, but we take it on the chin. We have had late goals in our favour of late.

“It’s a point, we didn’t play bad and it’s one defeat in 11. If we win on Tuesday, which we aim to do, we have had a good week.’’