IT could have been better, much better. It could have been worse, much worse.

Hartlepool United secured their place in this evening’s draw for the first round of the FA Cup, seeing off Kidsgrove Athletic. But it was uneasy rather than with ease.

“Job done, not very well. It was a nervy afternoon,’’ succinctly admitted Pools boss Matthew Bates.

It was four years ago when Bates was centre-half and Nicky Featherstone and Michael Woods formed the central midfield partnership as Pools were knocked out by Blyth Spartans.

That Kidsgrove didn’t follow the likes of Spartans and Frickley in embarrassing Pools at home was only down to a couple of astute Scott Loach saves in the second half.

The game did follow a familiar path of this season. Pools score, go ahead, but can’t find a second goal to finish off the opposition.

“We didn’t push on after the first goal,’’ reflected Bates, not for the first time this season.

“It’s disappointing not to score a second after scoring so early. It sometimes doesn’t quite happen in football how you want it. We wanted one of the chances to drop in and we have to give Kidsgrove credit for how they played and they forced Loachy into a couple of saves.’’

Pools did score early, seven minutes in when Niko Muir got a touch to divert the ball home from a short corner. It was on one of the few occasions Pools passed the ball with authority and pace that they earned the corner from which they scored.

Overall they were too pedestrian in possession, failing to get the ball into the front men and through midfield swiftly enough.

None of the three in central midfield got a hold of the game to control it. They tried to spray balls wide from distance to the wing-backs when they pushed high up the field. Both Ryan Donaldson and Mark Kitching had plenty of room ahead of them to venture into, but they didn’t get enough balls in the area – primarily because Pools didn’t get enough men in there.

Kidsgrove, three divisions behind Pools, started like they wanted to enjoy the game, but looked as if they lacked the finesse to trouble the home side. “Number ten, it looks like Slimming World is going well,’’ cried one Town End wag towards striker and top scorer Anthony Malbon.

But they didn’t allow the occasion to trouble them and they soon settled despite conceding early. By the end Pools were just happy to be through.

A free-kick was curled low from 25 yards and Loach got down well to push it aside for a corner, and from the set-piece the keeper held onto a neat flick from Lewis Bergin.

Bates opted against making changes, sticking with the same XI from the previous week’s draw at Orient.

“I’ve played in games when we have lost to lower league opposition, upsets at other clubs, this was their biggest game of their lives and they said that. We wanted to treat them with respect and stick with a strong side. I never wanted to make changes, those ideas came from elsewhere,’’ mused Bates.

“Is there added pressure at home? I don’t know. Niko had a good chance for a second, but we couldn’t capitalise on the first goal.

“There’s prize money at stake and you only realise that as much when you become a manager. We are pleased to get through and we want to get to the third round proper and get a big tie – that’s what we all hope for.’’

While Muir and Luke James chased and toiled, they didn’t get many openings. Muir missed a routine tap-in towards the end of the first-half, but James didn’t get into the area enough.

Bates waited until the 90th minute to give Marcus Dinanga a run-out and he went close with a firm shot into the top corner which was well saved.

At the other end, it’s now three games since Pools conceded. While England may have dropped their three at the back formation, it’s here to stay at the Super 6 Stadium.

Pools take their place in this evening’s draw. They could be paired against Sunderland now they are in the first round. “Sunderland away would be nice, but a home draw would be good,’’ mused Bates.