Nicky Featherstone earns Hartlepool a point and moves them out of the drop zone

Posted Tuesday, April 11, 2023 by PA

Nicky Featherstone’s first goal of the season earned Hartlepool a 1-1 draw with promotion-chasing Stevenage and lifted them out of the relegation zone in Sky Bet League Two.

Featherstone’s leveller seconds after the restart secured a point, with the visitors believing Pools should have had goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk sent off before the break.

At that point, Stevenage’s Danny Rose had ended a 24-game wait for a goal and put Boro on course to climb back into the top three with a 25th-minute header.

But Featherstone’s equaliser during an exciting second half saw Hartlepool extend their unbeaten run under John Askey to eight matches.

Stevenage, who slipped to fifth having failed to win in five, enjoyed the better of the first half. Jamie Reid went close to scoring inside two minutes when his effort was turned behind by defender Edon Pruti.

But they led when Rose jumped ahead of his marker to glance Luther Wildin’s cross inside the top-left corner.

It would have been two four minutes before half-time had Hartlepool keeper Stolarczyk not blocked Alex Gilbey’s attempted lob when he raced clear. Claims for handball and a red card were waved away by referee Paul Howard, leading to a word with protesting manager Steve Evans.

Moments after half-time, Featherstone rolled in an equaliser from just inside the area after Josh Umerah and Dan Kemp had created the opportunity.

Just after the hour, Pools defender Euan Murray should have put his side ahead when he fired over from inside the six-yard box following a corner.

Wildin went close to turning in Jake Taylor’s low drive for Stevenage, before visiting goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala saved from Tom Crawford and Ollie Finney could not control a pass when unmarked in the box.

Even then Taylor could have won it for Stevenage but David Ferguson brilliantly cleared off the line with effectively the last kick.