Mark Cooper hailed his Kettering heroes after they pulled off an FA Cup shock at Hartlepool.
The Blue Square Premier side, third in the table and seeking promotion to the Football League, produced a dogged and determined display to dump the League One side out. A 15th-minute goal by Moses Ashikodi proved the difference, but the real heroes were central defender Ian Roper and Exodus Geohaghon, who repelled every threat the home side could muster.
``I can't tell you how proud I am of the players,'' said Cooper, who led Tamworth to a 2005 FA Cup win at Hartlepool's Victoria Park and last season orchestrated Kettering's route to round four of the competition. ``I've two central defenders in the dressing room being stitched up, they were immense.''
He added: ``I thought we scored too early - that was my fear. You come to a League One team doing well and it's not going to be easy is it?
``We said we had to work harder than Hartlepool and have a bit of luck. We had some luck at times, but in the second half we were quite comfortable.
``There was no space for them to play the ball through and we stopped them doing it.
``At half-time we had a chance to make it 2-0, but we didn't take it. I thought it would be a turning point, but thankfully it wasn't.
``It's a big scalp for us, they are doing well in League One. When the draw was made it was one we weren't relishing. If your levels drop and the opposition raise theirs, look what can happen. We almost suffered in round one.
``There's only one tie I want in round two - Leeds away.''
The decisive strike came when Nicky Eaden's deep corner was headed back towards goal by John Dempster and Ashikodi got the decisive touch to lift it into the net.
Poppies goalkeeper Harper saved three times from long-range Peter Hartley shots and, in injury-time, he kept out a goalbound Gary Liddle effort.
Pools` director of sport Chris Turner said: ``We had more than our share of chances throughout. I'm gutted we are out of the competition - one effort has cost us.
``Kettering had four forays into our area in 90 minutes, we had endless. It's all about finishing and scoring and we couldn't do that.
``We had possession throughout, put balls over all day. Our game plan worked to a tee - goals aside. We dominated so much it was untrue, the reality is we didn't score and lost.
``You can always say 'if one of them goes in' but it didn't. It's about scoring and finishing, it just wasn't there.''
