FOOTBALL fans love a bit of nostalgia, the chance to reminisce about the good times, and last night Darlington and Hartlepool United rolled back the years with Pools coming out on top.

Quakers were coasting to a 1-0 win thanks to Stephen Thompson’s first-half goal, but were left to rue missed chances and then two defensive calamities late in the contest which Pools made the most of.

Lewis Hawkins and Josh Hawkes scored twice inside a minute to complete a smash and grab victory that takes them into the semi-finals of the Durham Challenge Cup.

That the game was in a local cup competition meant this renewal of rivalries for the first time since 2007 was, at least for Hartlepool, more of a tribute; familiar but not quite the real deal.

But tell that to Darlington players and supporters, who, on a bitterly cold January evening, were thoroughly enjoying themselves until they contrived to throw the game away by handing Pools two late goals.

The quickfire double left Quakers boss Tommy Wright fuming, about as angry as he has been during his post-match duties during his time as Darlington manager, and he was scathing of Jonny Burn.

He had been a half-time replacement for Terry Galbraith, withdrawn as a precaution due to a niggling hamstring strain, and was involved in the concession of both Pools goals.

“I didn’t see it coming. Let’s not beat around the bush, we should’ve been out of sight, but the two goals we conceded, it’s not good enough,” said Wright.

“Individual errors have cost us. We have spoken time and time again about winning headers inside your own box, it didn’t happen.

“To give another goal away straight from kick-off is ridiculous, we shot ourselves in the foot.

“That probably highlights why Jonny came out of the team in the first place. Maybe he was rusty, I don’t know, but he’s got to do better than that tonight.

“We win lose and draw as a team, we stick together, but Jonny has got to hold his hands up, unfortunately.”

For Pools it was a reserve game, though ten senior professionals were in their starting XI at Blackwell Meadows, whereas Darlington were unchanged from the weekend.

“I would not have fielded a strong team were it not out of respect and understanding for what a derby is,” explained Wright.

“The Durham Challenge Cup wasn’t high on our priority list, but when you get drawn against your local rivals you have a responsibility and I get that.

“We didn’t cut corners at all - Ben O’Hanlon went off early, Terry Galbraith came off as a precaution and so did Joe Wheatley.

“The fans have come here tonight to get behind us – some of them were on an all-dayer.

“This is a game they have missed having, they were right behind us all night.

“With keeping the starting XI from Saturday we should’ve been out of sight. We know we missed chances and I don’t think we played as well as we could’ve done, I’ll put that down to playing on a concrete pitch.

“We need to blame ourselves for the fact we haven’t put them to bed, but conceding them two goals in short succession is criminal.”

Quakers’ enthusiasm for the fixture was proven in the attendance figure of 1,758 – their second highest at Blackwell of the season – and from kick-off a packed Tin Shed was in full voice.

They were louder than at any time on Saturday when the visitors were Spennymoor Town, but the opposite end of Blackwell was sparsely populated.

Pools were given 580 tickets to sell and only 139 made the trip to back their second-string, but they almost had a goal to cheer early on.

The first save of the evening was by Quakers’ Jonny Maddison, diving to push a shot away from Hawkes from around 20 yards.

It was Darlington who took the lead, however, on 14 minutes with Thompson again on target.

He made it 1-0 against Spennymoor, and last night made the most of an error by goalkeeper Ryan Catterick after Harvey Saunders had sped down the left and crossed, Jordan Nicholson’s presence forcing the mistake and Thompson fired home.

Catterick did better when he beat away a Jordan Nicholson shot, and Harvey Saunders had chance to make it 2-0, slicing an attempted half-volley when he chased a ball down the left channel, a difficult chance on his weaker foot.

Pools moved the ball around very nicely, midfielder Connor Newton catching the eye and hoping to impress manager Richard Money who watched on from the balcony with coaches John Hewitson and Ian McGuckin taking charge of the team.

Newton’s pass to striker Niko Muir led to Maddison making his second save, low with his feet this time, before Pools’ Brooke Miller went into the book after bringing down Nicholson just inside Pools’ half.

Nicholson had latched onto Simon Ainge’s clearance, the defender getting good distance on a header from Darlington’s penalty area.

In added time Nicholson rode a couple of challenges before shooting over from 18 yards, and not taking chances would prove to be Darlington’s downfall.

Early in the second period Alex Henshall, a first-half replacement for O’Hanlon, had a shot saved by Catterick, and the Pools No. 1 then parried a Nicholson effort, Saunders quick to the loose ball but his touch gave him a tight angle and his effort went into the side-netting.

Pools were poor in the second period, creating little and it seemed a matter of time before Quakers would double their lead.

But Will Smith hit the bar with a header, and Saunders should have done better than to allow Catterick to smother his shot when Thompson played the ball across.

Wright’s side began to wane in the closing stages and, typically, Darlington paid the price for their wastefulness.

Hawkins climbed above Burn to meet with a header in off the bar after a left-wing cross by Danny Amos and 12 seconds after the kick-off Burn played a dreadful pass behind Ainge, and in nipped Hawkes for the winner.

It was a classic smash and grab, but Darlington had themselves to blame for missing chances and then making mistakes in defences.

MATCHFACTS

Goals: Thompson (14, 1-0); Hawkins (82, 1-1), Hawkes (83, 1-2)

Bookings: Miller (37, foul)

Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Sunderland)

Attendance: 1,758 (139 Hartlepool fans)

Darlington (3-4-1-2): Maddison 7; Smith 7, AINGE 8, Galbraith 7 (Burn 46, 3); Trotman 6, Elliott 6, Wheatley 7 (Glover 48, 7), O’Hanlon 6 (Henshall 16); Nicholson 8; Thompson 7, Saunders 6. Subs (not used): Hall (gk), Lingthep

Hartlepool United (3-5-2): Catterick 7; Kioso 7, Cunningham 7, Miller 7; Hawkins 7, McLaughlin 7, Kitching 6, NEWTON 8, Amos 7; Muir 6, Hawkes 7. Subs (not used): Boyle, Fox, Shepherd, Leonard, Rennison

MAN OF THE MATCH

SIMON Ainge – Again proved how solid a defender he is