HARTLEPOOL UNITED were seconds from a spot in the second round of the FA Cup. In the end they came out second best against Gillingham.

Pools led 2-0 at one point, but conceded a penalty four minutes and 45 seconds into four minutes of added on time at the end of 90 minutes, which meant an entertaining game went to extra time.

Defeat means Pools have gone seven games without a win, but this was a hard defeat to take against League One opposition.

Just 28 seconds had passed and Scott Loach had to make a save, keeping out a close-range Tom Eaves effort.

But Pools settled and had a great chance to go ahead.

Prompted by Paddy McLaughlin’s break from deep, Liam Noble fed Marcus Dinanga, he found Ryan Donaldson at the far post and his header was goalbound from close range.

But the big frame – and even bigger hands – of keeper Tomas Holy got in the way to instinctively push it out.

Nicky Featherstone broke from deep, unchallenged, and fired just wide from 20 yards.

When the Gills attacked, they had the big frame of top scorer Eaves to find. But Pools had Andrew Davies in the back four after suspension and his return to the side was vital in trying to keep Eaves in check.

Pools’ adventure was rewarded with the opening goal.

Noble’s deep, curling free-kick evaded the stranded Holy, landed towards the far post and Carl Magnay headed home.

Magnay was working in tandem with Davies at the back, the pair looking much more solid than the Peter Kioso – Myles Anderson axis from Sunday.

But Pools doubled their lead, with a goal from nothing.

Dinanga’s low shot was spilled by Holy, McLaughlin saw the loose ball, raced in and got there before anyone else to crash home a well-deserved second.

Bates suffered a blow on 37 minutes. Davies, so in command at the back, pulled up lame on the edge of his own area. On came Anderson, forming a partnership with Magnay.

And on 50 minutes, the deficit was reduced. A firm tackle by Magnay on the touchline was decreed a free-kick by referee Simon Olham. Taken quick and square, the ball fell for Max Ehmer to knock in from 10 yards.

Pools had 40 minutes to hold on. A test of character was on the cards.

Dinanga, impressive and lively in his best show for Pools so far, was replaced on 67 minutes. Tyrone O’Neill was his replacement.

A raking shot from Luke James almost caught out Holy, who grabbed it at the second attempt.

Eaves brought a long ball down well, and it needed some determined defending from a pack of blue and white shirts to block the effort.

O’Neill broke through the visiting defence, and got in on goal as it opened up. His low angled finish was well kept out by Holy.

Play switched straight to the other end, Loach making a fine stretched save to tip the ball over the bar.

Pools were good value for victory. But four minutes 45 seconds in four minutes added on time, a long ball pumped into the area was punched clear by Magnay.

Eaves made no mistake from the spot; two seconds later and the full-time whistle blew.

Time was added on because Loach was booked for timewasting on 90 minutes, delaying the taking of a goalkick. The additional added time was somewhat excessive.

Pools were affected by the goal, the crowd the same.

And when a combination of players felled Billy Bingham 25 yards out, the Gills won it.

Full-back Luke O’Neill curled his free-kick around the wall and past Loach.

It looked like it was game over, but Pools got a lifeline with six minutes of added time remaining. O’Neill got the ball close to goal and held it up, turned and poked in from close range.

Game on, but Pools ran out of time. There was nothing extra to add on this occasion.

Boss Bates admitted: “I’m gutted, gutted for the lads who gave us everything. The game plan was working and they gave me all I can ask for., 

“Last kick of the game for the penalty, I’ve looked at it and it’s longer than the added time put on. 

“I would be worried if I wasn’t getting the performances, but I am. We let them have the ball and we knew that would be the case and we got them on the counter attack.

“Carl was magnificent tonight, he was. He won’t know himself what has gone through his head, but he will go through his career and make more mistakes, but this is a sickener at the death. 

“There’s plenty of positives to take from this performance and I still believed it could be done in extra time. 

“At the end of 90 minutes it was about regrouping and going again and I felt we did. They scored a free-kick of League One quality they possess. 

“Paddy deserved his goal from his performances, he has been brilliant – a top professional wide left or in the middle. Tyrone had a chance in 90 minutes and it was a great save from the keeper. 

“I would be more concerned if I wasn’t getting what I wanted, but mistakes and lapses of concentration are costing us. As long as I am seeing what I am seeing then I am convinced results will turn. We were two seconds from beating a League One side. 

“They have come here and had a go, fair play to them they were gracious in victory and good luck to them. ‘‘

NICK LOUGHLIN'S MATCH STATS AND PLAYER RATINGS

1-0: Magnay (22, Noble’s free-kick found the centre-half at the far post and he headed in)

2-0: McLaughlin (32, low Dinanga shot spilled by the keeper and midfielder raced in to net from close range)

2-1: Ehmer (51, slotted in after a quick free-kick worked its way across goal)

2-2: Eaves pen (90, handball in the area and striker cracked in low spot kick)

2-3: O’Neill (102, free-kick curled around the wall from 25 yards)

2-4: List (107, broke through the defence, fired a low angled finish past Loach)

3-4: O’Neill (114, turned, pushed, poked and scrambled home from close range)

Bookings: Featherstone (44, foul); Fuller (59, dissent); Loach (90, timewasting)

Referee: Scott Oldham (Poulton): Controversy over his added on time in added on time, but he was probably correct in his decision 5

Attendance: 1,873

Entertainment: 4/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):

5 Loach: Beaten four times, which was somewhat harsh, but Pools were left to rue his 90th minute timewasting;

7 Richardson: Has settled in at right back and looks comfortable in the position

6 Magnay: Looked like he had a fine partnership with Davies until it was cut short. Needlessly conceded a penalty in the 94th minute

7 Davies: Kept dangerman Eaves in check, always there to block and challenge until he went off injured

7 Kitching: Like Richardson on the other flank, the full-back was solid enough throughout;

6 Donaldson: Kept wide, kept driving on as time ticked by right to the end of 120 minutes

6 Featherstone: Had a couple of forages forward, replaced in the second half as Pools tried to see the game out

7 Noble: Very disciplined in his performance, sat deep and allowed others to chase and roam around

6 McLaughlin: Busy, inventive and kept going all night, trying to force a leveller on 120 minutes;

7 Dinanga: Sharp and inventive going forward, trying to get into space around and behind the visiting defences. Pools lost some momentum when he was replaced

6 James: Again gave everything up front, and was missed in extra time after Pools replaced him for an additional midfielder to see the game out.

Subs:

Anderson (for Davies 37): Didn’t have the presence of Davies, but did what was asked 6

O’Neill (for Dinanga 66): Slow start, but had an extra half hour to make his mark and netted to give Pools a late lifeline 6

Newton (for James 84)

Muir (for Featherstone 97)

(not used): Catterick (gk), Kioso, Hawkes.

GILLINGHAM (4-4-2): Holy 5; O’Neill 7, Ehmer 7, Zakuani 6, Fuller 6 (Garmston 72); Bingham 6, Oldaker 7, Byrne 6, Hanlan 7 (List 46, 6); Eaves 7 (Lacey 117), Charles-Cook 5 (Rees 65, 6). Subs (not used): Parrett, Hadler (gk), Ogilvie.

MAN OF THE MATCH: LIAM Noble – solid and combative in the middle of the park, much improved on Sunday’s performance.