Town: Heagney 35, Harris 70 (pen), Broadbent 71, Franks 120
Hartlepool: Tymon 2 (pen), 66, 89
The first round of the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON produced an absolute thriller at the Galpharm Stadium this evening, with Town's under-18 side going through thanks to a dramatic late goal from defender Leigh Franks (pictured). 90 minutes wasn't enough to separate the two sides and it took a header from a 120th minute corner to win the game for the Terriers. It was harsh on the visitors, for whom striker Matthew Tymon netted a hat-trick, but Town will take it!
Town started the game in a 3-5-2 formation, with England under-17 'keeper Alex Smithies protected by a centre-back trio of Spencer Harris, Daniel Codman and Leigh Franks. Stephen Brook and Dave Pickering were the left and right wing-backs respectively, with Lewis Nightingale, James Spencer and Curtis Roberts in the middle. Up front, under-18 top scorer Dave Heagney was joined by recent first-team debutant Daniel Broadbent.
Visitors Hartlepool lined up 4-5-1, with custodian Callum Proudlock behind a back four of (from left to right); Matthew Horner, Craig Gott, Captain Gary Forbes and Chris Trevena. Craig Ruddy and Nicholas Scott occupied the right and left wings respectively either side of a midfield trio of Joseph Tait, Jonathon Rowell and Marc Ellison - leaving Matthew Tymon to lead the line alone.
The first controversial decision of the game came within the first two minutes when referee Toner gave a penalty against Town. A long clearance from 'Pool 'keeper Proudlock dropped in behind the Town defence, leaving striker Matty Tymon to challenge Alex Smithies for the bouncing ball. Smithies fisted it away before the referee blew his whistle, but instead of the expecting foul on Smithies the referee gave a penalty!
GOAL - The penalty was duly dispatched by Matthew Tymon, who just slotted his penalty between the diving 'keeper and the left-hand post to put the Monkey Hangers into an early lead.
The following ten minutes saw Town boss possession but struggle to effectively penetrate the five-man midfield of the away side, who had dropped a little deeper since the early goal.
Hartlepool were not without attacking threat and they created the next real chance of the game after 16 minutes with an excellent break, with right-back Trevena went on a good overlapping run before crossing to the bear post where midfielder Ellison hit a strong volley from only 8 yards - forcing Alex Smithies into an excellent save low down to his left side.
Midfielder Jonathon Rowell then forced Smithies into a smart save on his opposite side in the 20th minute with a good long-range drive.
A scramble then ensued in the away penalty area after a good ball into the box from Dave Pickering a minute later; Danny Broadbent challenged the 'keeper for the high ball and the knock-down fell to Stephen Brook, whose shot was blocked by the hand of the recovering custodian at the near post.
Hartlepool then broke quickly again in the 27th minute, with good play involving left-winger Scott and striker Tymon releasing Craig Ruddy into the box. Thankfully for Town, Curtis Roberts showed good pace and got back to deflect the shot behind for a corner.
Dave Pickering then hit a 25-yard free-kick just wide of the 'keeper's right-hand post after 32 minutes following a foul on James Spencer right in the centre of the pitch.
GOAL - Town then equalised with their first real chance of the game after 35 minutes, all starting with a quick piece of thinking from Alex Smithies. The Town custodian caught a high ball and immediately threw it out to midfielder James Spencer, who moved the ball on quickly to Danny Broadbent. The powerful striker turned towards goal and released the overlapping Dave Pickering down the channel and the right wing-back put in an excellent deep cross, where Dave Heagney powerfully headed home from 5 yards fort his fourth goal of the Academy season.
The ball had moved from one side of the pitch to the other within 20 seconds and the quickness of the move was the undoing of the resilient Hartlepool midfield and defence - along with the quality of the cross from Pickering.
Hartlepool weren't done yet though and Jonathon Rowell's clever run and quick shot forced Smithies into another good save, turning the ball around his right post for a corner after 42 minutes.
Hartlepool goalscorer Matty Tymon then flashed a header wide of Smithies' goal when unmarked in the centre of the box from an excellent Ruddy cross well into added time when he should have done better.
The half then ended with the scores level; Town had enjoyed a large majority of the possession but the visitors had created the better chances, forcing Alex Smithies into some decent saves. The second half promised to be a good one!
Half-Time: Huddersfield Town 1 Hartlepool United 1
There were no changes to either side during the interval, leaving the same Town eleven to kick-off towards the Panasonic Stand as the second half commenced.
Town threatened within the opening two minutes when a huge throw from defender Leigh Franks dropped to Curtis Roberts in the area - his shot being blocked by the outstretched legs of 'keeper Proudlock before being cleared to safety.
Alex Smithies then did well to claim a Hartlepool free-kick and akin to the Town equaliser, he immediately threw the ball out - this time to Dave Pickering on the halfway line. The diminutive right wing-back advanced before hitting the ball across field to Danny Broadbent, but his first-time effort from the edge of the box was always rising over the Hartlepool bar.
Broadbent had started the second-half in lively fashion and he saw his long range shot deflected just over the bar soon after.
SUB - Jack Hunt then replaced left wing-back Stephen Brook after 54 minutes, meaning that Town switched Dave Pickering into a centre-back position, with Danny Codman now left wing-back and Hunt on the opposite side.
BOOKING - Centre-backLeigh Franks was then booked after 57 minutes for a challenge from behind on Matty Tymon.
Impressive 'Pool midfielder Jonathon Rowell then tested Alex Smithies with a dipping long-range volley, forcing the 'keeper to tip the ball over the bar.
GOAL - Striker Matty Tymon then got his second goal of the game in the 66th minute after breaking the Town offside trap. The lone striker was put through on goal by a midfielder and after checking with the linesman, he advanced on 'keeper Alex Smithies before slotting the ball coolly into the bottom left corner.
Town then immediately won a penalty - Jack Hunt whipped a ball into the box from left which Danny Broadbent cleverly flicked on into the path of Dave Heagney at the far post. The striker touched the ball past left-back Matthew Horner before tripping over the outstretched leg of the defender, gaining a penalty in the process.
GOAL - Centre-back Spencer Harris stepped up and thumped the ball into the right corner to restore parity.
Dave Pickering then fed Danny Broadbent a clever ball into feet inside the box with 20 minutes left, but Callum Proudlock saved well.
GOAL - A minute later Daniel Broadbent gave Town the lead for the first time in the game. It was another header, this time form an excellent left-wing cross from Lewis Nightingale - Broady leaving the 'keeper with no chance from 6 yards out.
Substitute Jack Hunt then scorched a 30-yard volley just wide of the goal five minutes later.
SUB - Hartlepool made their first changes of the evening after 76 minutes; bringing on strikers Gary McRoberts and Daryl Scaife for Marc Ellison and Nicholas Scott.
The last ten minutes saw Town defending their own goal in determined fashion. Tymon broke the offside trap once more in the 84th minute but this time Smithies managed to block his shot brilliantly, with Danny Codman getting back to clean up the leftovers.
Substitute Scaife then flashed a near post header just wide of the post a minute later.
SUB - Dave Heagney was then replaced by winger Luke Durham in the 86th minute in Town's second change of the evening; Durham slotted in on the left wing, with James Spencer now joining Broadbent up front.
GOAL - Matty Tymon then sealed his hat-trick in the last minute of the game, showing clever movement to evade the Town centre-backs before moving in on goal and slotting the ball past Smithies to send the game into extra time.
End of 90 minutes: Huddersfield Town 3 Hartlepool United 3
The 229 fans that paid their £3.50 or £1 were certainly getting value for money on the evening as the game moved into an extra 30 minutes.
The first chance of the added period went Hartlepool's game 6 minutes in; centre-back Joseph Tait solidly meeting a left wing Craig Ruddy corner, only for Alex Smithies to push the ball away strongly with both hands.
Both sides were still competing fiercely - a point encapsulated by a full-blooded challenge between Town centre-back Franks and hat-trick man Tymon.
SUB - Midfield battler Luke Williams came on for Lewis Nightingale on the stroke of 100 minutes in Town's final change of the evening.
Tymon then beat Alex Smithies to a deep cross two minutes later and looked certain to get his fourth of the game - but it seemed fitting that it was Leigh Franks who made a brilliant diving headed clearance off the line.
Having had the better of the first 15 minutes of extra time, Hartlepool had a golden opportunity to seal the game just two minutes into the second period. That man Tymon latched onto a weak header back to Alex Smithies from Dave Pickering and tried to lob the onrushing 'keeper, but Alex managed to swipe the ball wide of the goal.
Substitute Gary McRoberts then scuffed a shot wide of the right-hand post with ten minutes left.
Danny Broadbent then showed great fitness to easily outpace Gary Forbes to a ball with five minutes left, but his low ball across the box just evaded James Spencer at the far post.
Lots of the players were going down with cramp in the final stages of the game and the game looked destined for penalties.
GOAL - Town then scored in the very last minute of injury time through big defender Leigh Franks. A bad Hartlepool back-pass gifted Town a corner and from the resulting left-wing kick, Dave Pickering picked out Franks at the near post with an in-swinger and the former Bridlington man made no mistake to win the game.
Final Score: Huddersfield Town 4 Hartlepool United 3
Huddersfield Town
Alex Smithies, Dave Pickering, Stephen Brook (Jack Hunt 54), Leigh Franks, Spencer Harris, Daniel Codman, James Spencer, Lewis Nightingale (Luke Williams 100), Daniel Broadbent (c), David Heagney (Luke Durham 86), Curtis Roberts
Unused Subs: Danny Barlow, Liam Ridehalgh
Booking: Leigh Franks 57
Hartlepool United
Callum Proudlock, Chris Trevena, Matthew Horner, Craig Gott, Joseph Tait, Gary Forbes (c), Craig Ruddy, Jonathon Rowell, Matthew Tymon, Marc Ellison (Gary McRoberts 76), Nicholas Scott (Daryl Scaife 76)
Unused Subs: Thomas Marron, Matthew Haymer, Jak Quantrill
Attendance: 229
