HARTLEPOOL United last night laid their Macclesfield jinx to rest, but they made hard work of it.

From one bogey team to another in the space of three days - first Blackpool went home without losing, then Macclesfield almost managed it.

Pool had never beaten the Silkmen in six previous League and cup attempts at home and it took two late goals to turn the Carling Cup tie in their favour last night.

First Adam Boyd scored then, with four minutes to go, Antony Sweeney secured a place in the second round of the League Cup, in its various guises, for the second time since 1996.

Last season Pool gave West Brom a torrid time in the second round and they will hope for a tie against a big club in the next stage.

The first half played was played at a pedestrian, pre-season pace, but only the home side were creating chances.

Yet, just like Saturday's game with Blackpool, there was little or no reward and the visitors made the most of their lifeline in the second period.

After only 54 seconds Kevin Betsy saw his scrambled effort from six yards clawed off the line.

Then, on nine minutes, Boyd's volley on the turn was badly handled by keeper Steve Wilson, who grabbed it at the third attempt.

Pool were dictating and Boyd was again denied by Wilson, before Micky Nelson's shot whistled over.

At the other end, debutant goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos touched the ball for the first time when he confidently took an inswinging corner just before the half hour mark.

Wilson denied Pool three times in close combat as the ball seemed to take up permanent residence in the visitors' penalty area.

After a flowing move from penalty box to penalty box, Nelson's firm strike was held by the keeper.

Konstantopoulos stopped a long-range Matt Tipton effort after the striker was allowed to run 80 yards unchecked.

Two minutes into the secon half, Pool were behind with a goal started and finished by former Pool players.

Tommy Widdrington broke away from deep in his own half, fed Jon Parkin and he cut inside to shoot low past the Greek keeper.

Boyd should have levelled but screwed his header in front of goal and Wilson again saved.

Konstantopoulos made a great block at point blank range to stop Parkin sliding home a second. The keeper then tipped over a fierce Tipton drive.

But Boyd levelled when he firmly drove a low shot into the corner from 20 yards.

Pool were disjointed until Boyd's intervention, which brought their confidence and passing back to the fore.

Then Boyd jinked his way to the byline and whipped a low ball over for Sweeney to smash home from six yards out.

Konstantopoulos reacted swiftly to pull Danny Whittaker's goal bound effort out of the top corner in an 89th minute scare, then went full stretch as Parkin's shot looked destined for the net.

* Alex Rae's European dream could be over for the season after UEFA upheld his five-match ban.

Rangers were ''bitterly disappointed'' but that would be nothing compared to the player's own feelings after his European adventure was wrecked as quickly as it started.

News from Switzerland confirmed that the midfielder will miss tonight's vital Champions League qualifying second leg clash with CSKA Moscow and four other European matches.

A strong team from Ibrox, including Rae, had flown out hoping to get the sentence reduced but the decision of the UEFA appeals body was a bitter pill to swallow.

A Rangers spokesperson said: ''The appeal against the severity of the five-match ban has been overturned, a decision which leaves the club bitterly disappointed.

''A great deal of work had gone into preparing our challenge, including a submission on Friday, and following UEFA's late request for the player to attend.

''The club has no further comment on this matter."

Rangers need to overturn a 2-1 deficit against the Russian side at Ibrox to make it into the draw for the group stages