National League side Solihull Moors have battled all the way to the end, as they force a replay against League Two strugglers Hartlepool United, to ensure both teams are temporarily placed in the hat for the next round. 
 

The away side twice took the lead at the Armco Arena, first through top-scorer Josh Umerah. Then in the second-half, substitute Jack Hamilton restored their lead. 
 

However, the National League side more than matched their league opponents when Scotsman Andrew Dallas bagged his ninth goal of the season before Joe Sbarra’ late strike ensured a replay. 
 

  • Starting Line-Ups

Solihull Moors

Ryan Boot (GK) ; James Clarke, Alex Gudger, Fiarce Kelleher, Ben Coker ; Callum Maycock, Kyle Storer ; Ryan Barnett, Joe Sbarra, Andrew Dallas ; Josh Kelly (4-2-3-1) 

 

Hartlepool United

Ben Kilip (GK) ; Euan Murray, Alex Lacey, Clarke Odour ; Reghan Tumilty, Nicky Featherstone, Mohammad Sylla, Theo Robinson ; Callum Cooke, Josh Umerah, Wes McDonald (4-3-3) 

 

  • Story Of The Match

Going into a crucial FA Cup tie, the home side produced a very strong line-up, which saw Andrew Dallas return to the starting eleven, in replace of loanee Alex Reid. Meanwhile. Hartlepool also named a very strong attacking line-up, with the sole aim of strolling into the next round. 
 

The FA Cup is known to cause plenty of upset’s, therefore, the first fifteen minutes definitely suggested that an upset could be in-store as Solihull Moors dominated. Firstly, Josh Kelly could have put the hosts ahead after five minutes when he dispossessed his man, but failed to generate enough power to beat the keeper.

Full-back James Clarke also produced some brilliant individual play on the right, to beat his man, before picking out Andrew Dallas who wasted his opportunity in a good position. 
 

However, when you are playing a side from the league above, you have to take your chances otherwise you get punished. So, it was no surprise when the away side took the lead. What also wasn’t surprising was that the goal came from the club’s star man Josh Umerah who poked past Ryan Boot to make it one-nil. 
 

Within seconds, the away side should have doubled their lead again through Umerah, but he somehow failed to beat the keeper from close range. 
 

Chances then continued for both sides as the game became much more open. Firstly, Andrew Dallas saw a shot blocked for Solihull Moors, before Theo Robinson also had an opportunity blocked for the away side. Robinson again went close with a header before Joe Sbarra’s long range effort drifted wide of the far corner. 
 

Half Time: Solihull Moors 0-1 Hartlepool United 

 

The second-half began very quiet, with both sides pushing to find a way to dominate possession following the restart. 
 

However, within six minutes, Solihull Moors drew themselves level through Scotsman Andrew Dallas. He calmly slotted home past the goalkeeper to grab his ninth goal of the season so far. 
 

With half-an-hour to play, the home side felt they should have had a penalty following one of their players being brought down in the area but amazingly the appeals were waved away by the referee. 
 

This decision came back to haunt the home side, as Hartlepool United resorted their lead with just over twenty minutes to play. Substitute Jack Hamilton had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes when he converted an effort to resort the League Two side’s lead. 
 

Hartlepool’s Callum Cooke then smashed a long-range effort off the crossbar which would have been enough to send the visitors through to round two. 
 

However, if anything, this opportunity sprung some more much needed life back into the game. Firstly, Joe Sbarra was denied brilliantly by the goalkeeper. Within minutes, Ryan Boot had to react quickly to deny Hamilton from close-range. 
 

The pressing for the home side finally paid off with six minutes to play, when Joe Sbarra fired past Ben Kilip to make it all square for the second time in the match. If anything, Solihull Moors could have nicked it late on when Ben Coker did brilliantly just outside the area but his effort was blocked. 
 

Full Time: Solihull Moors 2-2 Hartlepool United

 

  • Man Of The Match

There were some very impressive performances from both sides, however for his pure willingness to continue to fight and battle for his side, Solihull’s Joe Sbarra is definitely a contender. 
 

Whenever he got on the ball, he continued to press the opposition and constantly looked to make things happen for the home side. He came close on two separate occasions before a brilliant strike ensured his side would continue in this season’s FA Cup, at least for the meantime and both sides now away Monday’s round two draw before competing in a replay in roughly ten days time.