Wealdstone bounced back with a big second-half display, rescuing a point at the death against Lennie Lawrence’s mid-table Hartlepool United, to edge out of the relegation zone.
An early goal from Gary Madine put the Pools ahead, but Enzio Boldewijn’s late strike for the Stones ensured that the spoils were shared at Grosvenor Vale.
Matt Taylor’s side generated the first chance of the game in the 6thminute as Sam Ashford cut inside from the right wing and fired a fierce strike that was excellently saved by Adam Smith.
As the visitors settled into the rhythm of the match, they crafted their first opportunity on the quarter of an hour mark, when Madine struck a half-volley narrowly wide of the target.
In form Madine did not have to wait long for his second bite of the cherry, clinically despatching past Toby Steward in the 21st minute, to put his side in the lead and notch his sixth goal in as many games.
The Pools nearly doubled their advantage five minutes later, as Darren Ferguson surged into the box and fired towards goal, with only the woodwork thwarting the left back.
Trailing at the interval, the hosts returned for the second-half with added impetus as Taylor Clark was replaced by the experienced Adrian Mariappa.
Wealdstone’s captain nearly had an instant impact, rising highest to head on target from close-range in the 50th minute, but Smith responded with a superb save to deny the substitute.
Galvanised by the introduction of Mariappa, the Stones began to pepper the Pools’ goal, with Kallum Cesay drilling a low strike towards the far corner that was deflected agonisingly wide.
In their relentless pursuit of an equaliser, Taylor’s men looked like they had finally drawn level in the in the 63rd minute when Ashford headed home Micah Obiero’s pinpoint cross, but the linesman flagged for offside.
Six minutes later, Obiero rifled a fierce strike that was goal-bound, but Smith was equal to the effort, preserving his team’s slender lead.
With 12 minutes remaining, Hartlepool United had a chance to put the result beyond doubt, but Jack Hunter’s low strike was well-saved by Steward.
However, Wealdstone’s persistence finally prevailed in the 86thminute as Boldewijn produced a moment of magic, unleashing a left-footed screamer, that flew into the bottom corner past Smith, deservedly rescuing a point for the hosts.
Wealdstone return to action in the National League Cup on Tuesday when they host Brighton & Hove Albion U21s at Grosvenor Vale, in a 7pm kick-off.
WEALDSTONE XI: Steward (GK), Cook, Grant (Sekyere 84'), Mundle-Smith, Boldewijn, Cesay, Clark (Mariappa 46'), Georgiou, Kretzschmar, Ashford, Obiero.
Attendance: 1467