Joe Grey’s 11th goal of the season was not enough to give Hartlepool United an Easter double after Devante Rodney struck at the death to snatch a 1-1 draw for Rochdale.
Phillips made just one change from the side who beat Halifax on Good Friday, with Terrell Agyemang replacing Courtney Duffus on the left flank.
Pools made a bright start and had the first shot of the day with Callum Cooke going wide of the keeper’s right stick from the edge of the area.
There was little from the hosts early on, though Pete Jameson was forced to palm a cross from the right onto his own crossbar.
Dale should've been ahead on 38 minutes when Kairo Mitchell fired over with the goal gaping after a slick home move.
It got even worse for the 14-goal striker two minutes later when he was red-carded by referee Richard Eley for a challenge on Tom Parkes.
Two minutes into added time, Pools moved the ball around nicely to create an opportunity for Mani Dieseruvwe, only for the 22-goal forward to shank it badly wide from 12 yards.
In the second. half, Grey hit the side netting whiile Louis Stephenson came even closer with a rocket beaten out by keeper Jacob Chapman.
Something was coming for the visitors and it arrived in the 64th minute. Dieseruvwe had a shot saved by Chapman and from the resulting corner, Dale couldn't clear from Cooke’s high, hanging delivery from the right. The ball reached Grey, who converted cleverly from six yards out.
Pools had two chances to double their lead 15 minutes from time. First, Chapman saved low down from Dieseruvwe on the turn before the visitors got possession straight back, with Grey flicking a shot inches wide of the far post.
Pools should have sealed the deal on 86 minutes when Grey ran from deep and played in Cooke on the counter, whose shot was straight down the keeper’s throat.
Jameson came to Pools’ rescue in the dying seconds when he made a tremendous save low to his right from Hayes, who had jinked his way into the area.
And when Rodney skied a free-kick four minutes into injury time, that looked like that. But the ex-Pools striker would have the last word after latching onto a long ball, rounding Jameson and slotting home.
Pools: Jameson, Stephenson, Parkes, Waterfall, Ferguson, Featherstone, Crawford, Grey, Cooke (Duffus 90), Agyemang (Cooper 69), Dieseruvwe.
Subs (not used): Dixon, Onariase, Oduroh
Goals: Grey (64)
