Hartlepool United 0-2 Marine; Emirates FA Cup 4Q; Saturday 17th October 2026
Adam Yates reports from Victoria Park…
Adam Yates reports from Victoria Park in Hartlepool as the Mariners wrote another successful chapter into their FA Cup history books besting the Pools 2-0 to progress to the First Round Proper.
Second half goals by defender Jack Doyle and youngster James Potter capped off a team performance to be proud of in front of 200 travelling supporters.
The opening 20 minutes was dominated by the hosts of Hartlepool who were hoping for a distraction away from their poor league form of late. Set pieces were piercing the defence and chances were created, most of which went wide. One such shot however by Nolan was impressively tipped over by Jack McIntyre who would be tested throughout the ninety.
Early bookings handed to Jack Doyle, Declan Drysdale and Leigh Whelan meant that the Mariners had to judge their defensive duties carefully as not to gift Hartlepool further free kicks close to their own box.
Marine opportunities in the half were rare with only half chances handed to the likes of Drysdale and debutant loanee Cole Simms who started in place of the recently injured George Newell.
The Mariners survived the first half intact which propelled them with further confidence that the second would bear fruit and it did. After a close call hit to the crossbar by Hugill, an unfortunate injury to the ever present Leigh Whelan provided an entrance to teenager Harry Huby and soon after he played a part in the build up to the opening goal. Passing to Finlay Sinclair Smith, the Crosby Maradona spotted Jack Doyle on an under-lapping run, Fin found Doyle and the left back drilled the ball past Max Thompson at the near post sending the away support into ecstasy.
Bobby Grant was not done in his quest for victory however and replaced Simms with James Potter and it took the youngster only minutes (if that) to add another goal to his ever increasing tally in FA competitions. This time Huby was able to assist his fellow academy teammate Potter as James poked home ahead of his defender and the ball bounced away from Thompson’s reach doubling Marine’s lead in the space of seven minutes.
The Mariners had to endure a further twenty minutes of regular and stoppage time and they did so aided by further impressive shot stopping from Jack McIntyre as he dived either side of his posts to clear potential danger.
The victory means that Marine are in the First Round draw for the third time in seven years whereas Hartlepool have failed to win their opening FA Cup fixture in four consecutive seasons.
Marine: McIntyre, Abankwah, Doyle, Wardle, Drysdale, Whelan (Huby 62), Darby, Raikhy (Butler 90), Jolley, Sinclair Smith, Simms (Potter 73).
Unused substitutes: Hilton, Kattah, McAleny, Timmins
Attendance: 1,935
Motm : All Players Superb (Jack McIntyre if I had to pick)
