REPORT | HARTLEPOOL UNITED 1-1 WEALDSTONE

A 98th minute goal from Emmanuel Dieseruvwe denies Wealdstone their first three points of the season in a spirited performance at the Suit Direct Stadium.

The Stones took the lead with five minutes left of the first-half, when Micah Obiero finished well after Max Kretzschmar's fantastic assist found him in the area.

In what was a game of two halves, the Stones had to settle for a draw when a long ball over the top found Diseruvwe, who poked the ball past Archie Matthews to level the score in the 98th minute.

Matt Taylor made three changes to the side that faced Sutton United on Tuesday night with Anthony Georgiou, Christian Scott and Max Kretzschmar all coming into the side to replace Yacou Traore, Dom Hutchinson and Henry Sandat.

It was the hosts that fashioned the first real chance of the game, when Anthony Mancini found himself with space to take a shot from a tight angle, which was palmed away by Matthews, just five minutes in.

But Taylor's side grew into the game as the half went on, looking the much stronger side throughout the first period. Enzio Boldewijn looked impressive playing as a no.10, just behind Obiero.

The Stones created a number of half chances, before finally finding their opener in the 39th minute.

As the ball looked destined to go out for a goal kick, the tenacious pressing of Kretzschmar saw him keep the ball in play and pick out Obiero in the area, who finished well into the bottom corner to give the Stones a richly deserved lead.

Having just taken the lead, the Stones dominated proceedings for the rest of the half, and could've found themselves two goals ahead, had the the decision making been more incisive to see out the half.

Very much a game of two halves, the hosts came out for the second period looking reinvigorated.

Foreshadowing proceedings later on, Hartlepool were finding luck with balls over the top. Diseruvwe found himself in acres of space, in the 55th minute, but instead of opting for the shot, he squared to Jack Hunter, who was then crowded out by a number of Stones defenders.

Diseruvwe was proving to be a real handful for the Stones defence, but Matthews was doing his very best to deny the striker from finding the back of the net.

The Stones' no.1 made a huge save in the 84th minute to deny him on the volley, before making an outstanding reflex save in the 91st minute, when Diseruvwe's point-blank header looked destined to go in.

But with seven minutes added on, the hosts upped the pressure and found their breakthrough in the 98th minute, when a long-ball over the top found Diseruvwe, who latched on and poked the ball past Matthews to level the score.

A disappointing end to what was a solid performance for the Stones, who have the chance to rectify the result in just two days when they face AFC Fylde on Bank Holiday Monday at 3pm.

WEALDSTONE XI: Matthews (GK), Mason, Mariappa, Cook, Georgiou (Traore 79'), Cesay (Hutchinson 70'), Dyer, Scott (Dreher 62'), Boldewijn, Kretzschmar (Sandat 62'), Obiero.