For many, romance is a bouquet of roses on Valentine’s Day, dinner under the Eiffel Tower or long walks in the countryside. Not for non-league footballers.

For lower leaguers, the FA Cup is their emotional instigator. Where dreams are realised and fairytale endings played out. Optimism is rife and local bragging rights within touching distance.

None of this cupid nonsense. Not when a cup run is up for grabs.

This weekend was the FA Cup PROPER. Where historic football league clubs have to pit their wits against non-league minnows looking to make a name for themselves. BBC cameras report from grounds that resemble large allotments and crowds horde in to see their local tradesmen go toe-to-toe with those on the professional footballing pyramid.

In what other tournament could a grassroots franchise such as FC United of Manchester potentially meet THE Manchester United? Or Millwall possibly clash with the London Metropolitan Police? (On the pitch, that is.)

As a League Two club, Hartlepool United enter the tournament at the first round stage. With every round manoeuvred comes the bounty of higher stature opposition. For Pools, the promise of a potential tie with Sunderland AFC or Newcastle United should have been impetus enough to go all out this afternoon.

For the non-league clubs in the tournament, the chance to “scalp” a club of larger stature had already arisen, as was the case for today’s visitors in Cheltenham Town.

The Gloucestershire side lost their football league status just last summer after a torrid season in League Two. Sitting second in the Vanarama Football Conference after 19 games, the Hawks are looking to bounce straight back from their relegation. They almost crashed out to lesser opposition themselves in their qualifying round, being taken to a replay by Havant & Waterlooville, before disposing of the London outfit at their cheerfully named ‘World of Smile’ Stadium.

Ahead of today’s game, Pools boss Ronnie Moore had dipped into the transfer market in an attempt to halt the dire run Hartlepool have been on as of late, the club still looking for that elusive first home victory since August.

Adam Jackson signed on a month’s loan from neighbours Middlesbrough, and midfielder Jake Gray arrived from Crystal Palace on a similar deal, both going straight into the starting line-up as Moore looked to instil some new life into what is fast becoming a stagnant side.

Loanee Jason Banton was this week granted permission by his parent club Wycombe Wanderers to play in the FA Cup (rendering him ineligible for the Chairboys later in the tournament were they themselves to progress), but only made the bench. Carl Magnay meanwhile, served the last of a six-game ban having been controversially suspended for spitting.

After an impeccably observed minute’s silence for fallen soldiers, the game got underway.

The pre-match silence seemed to hang in the air throughout the first half, the crowd seeing no signs of such epic heroism on the pitch. The North-East outfit were clearly uncomfortable in their own ground, the last thing any season ticket holder would want to see.

It was not until the introduction of striker Rakish Bingham on 39 minutes (replacing skipper Billy Paynter who had aggravated an achilles injury), that Pools showed any real threat at all.

On the stroke of half time, the former Wigan Athletic striker proved crucial in finding the breakthrough.

After a crunching challenge from Nicky Featherstone on the edge of the box, He played the ball whilst on the ground to Bingham who slid a clever pass into Kudus Oyenuga who fired home via a deflection past the keeper.

In the second half, Cheltenham looked for a way back into the game with a succession of corners and enjoying the lion’s share of possession. They probed down both flanks, whipping in chances that were repeatedly glanced wide of Trevor Carson’s posts.

Supporters in the South Stand could see the domination of the visitors and responded, smashing the metal boards behind them whilst cheering “Ronnie Moore’s Blue & White Army”. It was the first time in over three home games that such a chant had broken out. It appeared that Victoria Park was at long last taking a turn towards the positive.

Cheltenham continued to push up, most of the play starting to build around the tall frame of midfielder Harry Pell. But this time the rushed clearances were cheered by the home fans and the steady clapping of support continued edgily right to the end.

After an eye-watering five additional minutes, the full time whistle rang out across a dark Victoria Park, relief etched on every face in white and blue.

The ignominy of losing to lower league opposition had been averted and the start of a cup run which would inject a bit of cash into the club was underway. It was far from comprehensive against a side that Pools should be beating, and they rode their luck right up to the end with the last action of the match being the ball striking against the home side’s crossbar.

But more importantly, Hartlepool had won a game at home. Seven teams had visited the Vic and filled their pockets with points since those paltry two home wins back in August. The FA Cup draw had alleviated all the local angst with it’s familiar heartfelt grace.

When asked after the game about his team, Hartlepool manager Moore was characteristically frank:

“We’re in the draw. How? I don’t know…But we’re there.”

Who next for Hartlepool? Only Monday night’s draw will tell. But if lady luck hands Ronnie Moore and his side a home tie, there may just be the start of something romantic afoot.