COVENTRY CITY 2-1 HARTLEPOOL UNITED
City:Murphy, Christie, Adams, Thomas, Fleck, Baker (Webster 93), L Clarke, Moussa, Seabourne, Wilson (Daniels 84), J Clarke. Subs: Gott, Barton, Phillips, Garner, Haynes
Hartlepool: Flinders, Duckworth, Baldwin, Burgess, Austin, Walton (Poole 68), Dolan, Walker, Compton (James 55), Monkhouse, Franks (Collins 84).
Subs: Rafferty, Holden, Sweeney, Rodney.
HT CCFC 1-0 HUFC FT CCFC 2-1 HUFC. ATT 1214
Goals Leon Clarke 36,92 Jack Baldwin 86
Referee K.Hill. Booked Baldwin
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Coventry City left it late to beat Hartlepool United 2-1 and set themselves up for a Third Round trip to Barnsley.
If we needed any proof that the time is right for FA Cup Replays before the Third Round to be consigned to the history books, then the FA Cup Second Round Replay between Coventry City and Hartlepool United was it.
City would have struggled to get a decent gate had they been playing at the Ricoh Arena, Highfield Road or Dowells Field, with supporters, whose fault it wasn't that City were forced to play without any recognised strikers for the game at Victoria Park on December 7th, not wanting to pay extra just because City can't finish the job in ninety minutes.
So playing this game at the badly in need of redevelopment stadium that is Sixfields meant that there was always going to be a crowd of small proportions and this was going to be a loss making game that could be avoided in future if the FA do listen to those calls for early round replays to be scrapped.
City's team was as expected with Leon Clarke and Carl Baker starting instead of Chris Dagnall and Chris Maguire, who were not allowed to play by their parent clubs.
In front of the main stand of 989 City supporters and 225 in the away end, Coventry took on a Hartlepool side in a red away kit with a white stripe down one side.
Steven Pressley's side attacked the end where the Monkey Hangers were and had Callum Wilson make a good run in the 5th minute.
Two minutes later and in view of a dozen on the hill, who could be clearly heard singing, City won a corner but Flinders was out and punched clear on a wet, misty night.
Cyrus Christie had a great run in the 13th minute and crossed for Leon Clarke to get in a shot from close range which Flinders blocked for a corner.
Another corner followed in the 18th minute and was hacked away and Baker sent a twenty five yard free kick wide.
Hartlepool, who had wasted time with a fake injury that allowed a drinks break, had a shot on goal through Franks in the 28th minute and a Monkhouse header from a free kick seven minutes later.
Joe Murphy sent the ball upfield and Leon Clarke raced through to beat Flinders with a powerfully hit shot and give City a lead they just about deserved.
Burgess headed wide from a free kick. City responded with a low drive from Callum Wilson and Christie cut in side for a shot which dipped just over as the half came to a close.
The crowd of 1214,which included former Sky Blues Micky Adams and Gary McSheffrey, saw the visitors win a 51st minute corner.
Pressley continued to bark out orders as Colin Cooper made a change to try and get his side back into this rather dour game.
With City getting rather too casual, Matty Dolan fired wide with a thirty yarder.
One good move came in the 65th minute when Blair Adams got down the left and crossed for Leon Clarke to head wide. Baldwin then headed at Murphy before City won a 67th minute corner and Cooper made his second change.
With the City fans inside the ground finally making some noise, Carl Baker hit a stinging shot from a Leon Clarke which Flinders blocked for a corner.
Another came in the 73rd minute for City who were no longer playing the crisp football we were used to earlier in the season.
In the 77th minute, Callum Wilson had a shot from a Baker ball, skim off the bar for a corner. Dolan went close again and Christie sent a free kick over before Cooper made his final change and Pressley sent on Billy Danilels for Callum Wilson.
This game was following the way the one at Victoria Park went and in the 86th minute, the visitors won a corner and Jack Baldwin got to the near post to head in.
The fans of the League Two team went mental but their joy was short-lived as City came back in stoppage time. Fleck took the free kick. Carl Baker got in a shot that was blocked and the ball fell for Leon Clarke who lashed it home and send City through.