CONTROVERSY may have surrounded the nature of Hartlepool's FA Cup triumph at Victoria Park on Saturday, but all Pool fans were concerned about was the fact their name went in to the hat for the second round draw.

Former England and Spurs striker Martin Peters drew Pool's name from the hat yesterday afternoon and they now face nonleague Tamworth at the Vic on December 3.

But it could have been all so different had their first round opponents Dagenham and Redbridge received a penalty in second half stoppage time when Darren Williams was adjudged to have handled.

Home fans endured a few nervy seconds before referee Gary Sutton waved play on.

Pool supporters initially feared the worst. The Lincolnshire official has previous form for giving controversial penalty decisions.

Last weekend he awarded a disputed spot-kick against Pool's fierce rivals Darlington at Wrexham - a decision even the home players found perplexing.

Emotions were still running high immediately after the game on Saturday with the Daggers boss John Still insisting: "It was a 100 per cent nailed-on guaranteed penalty.

"There was absolutely no doubt whatsoever, even the fourth official was in no doubt it was a handball.

"I've never seen our bench to a man stand up. It was so obvious.

"I actually think he (the referee) knew by the reaction of people but he said he didn't see it.

"From where we were standing it wasn't even close.

"He (Williams) put two hands up and it was deliberate.

"But saying that there was nothing in the game. They were a good side. I feel very proud and disappointed."

Mischievously, Pool boss Martin Scott viewed the proceedings rather differently.

Scott took the myopic approach usually employed by messrs Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson when he impishly quipped: "I didn't see it!" Before adding: "I think when it gets to that stage and you've done ever so well you're trying to appeal for everything.

"I was obviously delighted it didn't go against us because things have gone against us in the past."

Still's comments, however, told only half the story. His team wasted a glut of gilt-edged chances, especially in the second half and profligacy was the real villain of the piece - not just the penalty decision which had gone against them.

Pool enjoyed the greater possession and were the better side, certainly before the break.

In the absence of cup-tied Neill Collins, captain Richie Humphrys and defender Micky Nelson were outstanding at the back. The skipper drove his side forward throughout and coped admirably in the second period when he was swamped down his left flank as Thomas Butler abandoned his defensive duties - on his manager's instruction - to push for a Pool winner.

Nelson revealed his prowess as a stopper with a crunching tackle on the impressive striker Tresor Kandol - a one-time Pool target Scott revealed after the tie.

The Pool defender also displayed his ruthless eye for goal when levelling two minutes after the visitors took the lead.

But if any player deserved to be singled out for praise then it was Butler. The former Sunderland winger initially struggled to find his range in the first half but, when the Hartlepool boss gave his tricky playmaker the freedom to express himself in the second period, he tormented the visitors and ultimately secured his side's place in the next round.

"We paid them all the respect they deserved. They were well organised and we knew before the game it was going to be tough, " said a delighted Scott.

"We weren't on top of our game but we had the character to come back from behind against nonleague opposition, that's the pleasing aspect.

"I'm not foolish enough to say we were outstanding because we weren't.

"Sometimes you've got to grind results out and we did that.

"It was a great strike from Nels (Nelson). We needed a bit of a lift just before half-time to get us back into it.

"But the quality in our team in possession is Tommy Butler. You don't need to be Einstein to work out who's the top man in possession for us at this moment in time.

"We didn't get the ball into him enough all 90 minutes. When we finally got it to him he caused problems.

"He deserved a goal and I said to the players Tommy Butler deserved a pat on the back from every single player because he's got us into the second round.

"He's been positive all season.

He came back in pre-season very sharp, very fit and I think he's been a credit to himself this season."

Dagenham took the lead against the run of play on 32 minutes when Craig Mackail-Smith took advantage of Williams' poor header to find Kandol unmarked from eight yards in front of goal.

He didn't need asking twice and headed confidently past goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos.

Two minutes later and Pool were level when Nelson - still forward from an earlier free-kick - powered a thunderous shot from 20 yards into the top corner of Tony Roberts' goal.

After the break the play opened up and both sides were guilty of missing glorious chances.

Moore, Mackail-Smith, Lee Goodwin and Glen Southern all wasted opportunities for the visitors, while Eifion Williams and Butler were probably the most culpable for Pool.

But perhaps it was most fitting the pair were responsible for contriving the home side's nervy winner.

The impressive Butler jinked past the challenges of two defenders from the left, swapped passes with Williams, and slotted home from ten yards six minutes from time.

Those who say the FA Cup has lost its sparkle would have had the fizz put back in their bottle had they witnessed Saturday's humdinger.

The tie may have been short on quality, but it had everything else: spectacular goals, thrilling end-to-end play; staggering misses and controversy in the penalty box.

Dagenham and Redbridge arrived looking to add yet another Football League scalp to their long illustrious line. They left for east London only to reflect on a series of spurned opportunities and a controversial refereeing decision.

Who cares says Pool fans?

Hartlepool United 2 - 1 Dagenham and Redbridge

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