Wycombe Wanderers were knocked out of the FA Cup by League Two Hartlepool United, as they lost 1-0 in a first round replay at Adams Park.
Mark Cullen's cool first-half strike was all that separated the sides, as the Chairboys fell at the first hurdle of the world's oldest knockout competition for the second time in three seasons.
In Hartlepool’s first visit to Adams Park in five seasons, the away side started on the back foot as Wycombe bombed forward in the early stages of the contest.
Daryl Horgan, who returned to the starting line-up following his commitments with the Republic of Ireland last weekend, had two attempts in the first eight minutes.
Under the lights for a bit of #FACup action #Chairboys #HUFC pic.twitter.com/Ottnczke3O
— James Richings | Bucks Free Press (@James_BFP) November 16, 2021
First, his cross/shot after five minutes flew past Ben Killip in the Pools goal, before the former Preston North End man forced the goalkeeper into a routine save.
The Chairboys continued to press their League Two opponents, as Brandon Hanlan fired over from 20-yards with a first-time effort on 13 minutes, but, this was the best it got for the home side, as the tide suddenly turned.
Tony Sweeney’s men had done brilliantly to soak up the Wanderers pressure as they manage to get around Wycombe with blistering counter-attacks, and this forward-thinking play led to the away side taking the lead after 19 minutes.
1 - And we're off! Hartlepool get the game underway after the Wycombe players take the knee. #Chairboys #HUFC #FACup
— James Richings | Bucks Free Press (@James_BFP) November 16, 2021
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Some poor defending from the Wycombe backline allowed Hartlepool to get into the Wanderers box, and after David Ferguson's cross was blocked by Joe Jacobson, the loose ball found its way to Cullen, who bent in his low effort from eight-yards around David Stockdale.
It was his fifth of the season, and his second against the Chairboys in two matches.
Moments later, Hartlepool nearly got a second, as Cullen's flying header from a Luke Molyneux cross went inches wide of the target after 35 minutes.
Wycombe needed the half-time whistle as they were being ripped apart by the League Two side.
The second-half started at a blistering pace as both sides peppered the goals with a flurry of attempts.
19 - Goal to Hartlepool. Mark Cullen. #Chairboys #FACup #HUFC
— James Richings | Bucks Free Press (@James_BFP) November 16, 2021
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Just four minutes into the second period, the Pools goal was living a charmed life as a wave of Wycombe attacks went begging.
First, an Anthony Stewart header brushed the side-netting from a Jacobson free-kick, before a Sam Vokes header crashed the post…then Adebayo Akinfenwa header went over.
An Ainsworth rocket must have been left off in the Wanderers dressing room as the Chairboys came out fighting.
After the three headed chances went begging inside the opening five minutes of the second-half, Horgan again tried his luck from range, but Killip again was there to deny him, before Pools’ number one tipped a Jacobson free-kick over by the 56th minute.
19 - Urgh. Ainsworth will not be happy. Wycombe were statues when Hartlepool took a throwing, Cullen had a shot which Jacobson blocked, but he bent in the rebound from close range. His fifth of the season. #Chairboys #HUFC #FACup
— James Richings | Bucks Free Press (@James_BFP) November 16, 2021
🔵0-1🔴
Vokes again tried his luck but a looper header from the Welshman went wide.
And despite Wanderers being on the front foot, Wycombe were again exposed on the counter.
By the 60th minute, Hartlepool twice could have doubled their lead, but, Stockdale was on hand to deny a thunderous drive from Maty Daly, before David Ferguson fired wide despite having the whole of the Wanderers half.
Vokes hit the post again with a low drive on 72 minutes, and the introduction of Anis Mehmeti did cause problems for the away side, and David Wheeler hit the post in injury-time but, the magic of the FA Cup didn’t sprinkle its gold dust on the Adams Park turf.
The defeat means Wycombe are now winless in six.
It’s also Hartlepool’s first win away Wycombe since April 2007, which was also a 1-0 win for the Pools.
Up next is Bolton on November 20.
Attendance: 1,582
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