Oates fires Hartlepool into the National League play-off final

Rhys Oates’ strike guided Hartlepool United to the National League play-off final after they overcame Stockport County 1-0 at Edgeley Park.

Oates’ finish with 15 minutes to go means Hartlepool will face Torquay United in the play-off final at Ashton Gate next Sunday as United hope to end their four-year absence from the Football League.

However, a disappointing defeat for Stockport leaves Simon Rusk with a summer of planning for yet another season in the National League.

A rather dull first-half saw a few chances with the contest being battled out in the middle of the pitch.

On his return from injury, Paddy Madden should have given County the lead with his first chance inside 10 minutes, however, his shot was dragged wide following a low cross into the box from wing-back, Macauley Southam-Hales.

At every opportunity, the visitors looked to play their way out from the back, and as the game went on, they started to dominate possession, although, they were unable to test Stockport shot-stopper, Ben Hinchliffe.

United’s first chance of the game fell to Oates who drove at the County defence from halfway before the striker unleashed a tame effort that caused no harm to the Stockport goal.

The forward tried his luck minutes later, but similarly, his shot flew high over the bar- leaving Hinchliffe untested.

With the sides goalless at the break, both teams came out fighting to find the all-important breakthrough.

The United dugout felt referee, David Richardson was wrong to wave away their penalty appeals when Oates appeared to be bundled over in the area.

Whilst the bench complained, County created an attack themselves from which they almost took the lead.

Southam-Hales did well in the area to poke a ball into the path of John Rooney who was able to unleash an effort towards goal, however, his shot was well saved by Brad James in the Hartlepool goal.

The home supporters were on their feet again on the hour, this time to go against the referee’s decision not to send Gavan Holohan off. The United midfielder’s boot was high and around Elliot Newby’s head, although the referee deemed the challenge to be a yellow card offence.

Stockport was struggling to break down Hartlepool’s strong backline, but when they managed to fashion a chance, Newby could not convert.

Rooney- who was named the National League Player of the Season earlier in the week- threaded an eye of the needle ball to Sam Walker on the left, and his low cross fell into the path of Newby, however, the substitute’s shot was miscalculated and his effort was deflected behind for a corner.

Dave Challinor’s side were well set up at Edgeley Park, and they found a breakthrough via Oates who fired United into the lead with his first shot on target.

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The hero from the quarter-final was now the hero in the semi-final, and the striker’s finish was worthy of winning any play-off tie.

The ball fell to him on the edge of the box, and he made no mistake in firing his effort past Hinchliffe and into the bottom of the corner.

Stockport’s struggles of breaking United down continued as time ran out, but they looked as though they had levelled through substitute Richie Bennett.

The striker- who scored five goals for Hartlepool during a loan spell earlier this season- rose highest to power a header towards goal, however, James managed to produce a fantastic save down low to deny County an equaliser.

The visitors survived four additional minutes to confirm their place in the National League final, but for Stockport, an 18-game unbeaten run had been ended at the worst possible time.

Challinor’s Hartlepool will face Torquay in a week’s time after the Gulls defeated Notts County 4-2 after extra-time was needed to separate the sides.

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