Goals:

1-0: Fenwick (16, low angled finish after bustling his way into the area)

1-1: Cummins (19, escaped Bates to plant a close-range free header in from a corner)

2-1: Hugill (45, played in by Tshibola and cracked his finish beyond keeper Hamon from 12 yards)

Bookings: Hugill (9, foul); Harley (41, foul)

Referee: Carl Boyeson (Hull): Couple of scary moments went Pools’ way – kept his card in his pocket for a second-half Hugill foul and didn’t buy Exeter trying to nab a late penalty 8

Attendance: 4,994

Entertainment: PPPPP

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):

8 Flinders: Has really stood up to the job in recent weeks and this professional display exuded confidence and authority in his area;

7 Austin: Poor at Luton, much better this time as he patrolled the right side in the manner he so firmly can do

9 HARRISON: Immense at the back – won header after header after header. An attitude of ‘thou shalt not pass’

7 Bates: Some early interceptions steadied the defensive ship, and his experience was important alongside Harrison

7 D Jones: Settled on the left side, his cross to present Fenwick with a scoring chance was an absolute peach;

6 Compton: A surprise starter and a gamble to play him on his final appearance at Victoria Park. Didn’t have the spark Moore hoped he would provide

8 Tshibola: The sort of midfield enforcer performance Pools have been waiting for for weeks. Has played a massive role since signing on loan from Reading

7 Featherstone: Become a key element in the side of late and for once was outshone by Tshibola, but always available to knit Pools together

8 Franks: A honest and hard-working shift out wide, gave his all for the cause and was running on empty towards the end;

9 Fenwick: All hustle and bustle – bullied the visiting centre-halves in a whole-hearted display from start to finish. Scored one, could have had two

9 Hugill: Complimented Fenwick well – all effort and honesty. And goes down in history as the man who scored the goal to keep Pools in the Football League.

Subs:

Harewood (for Hugill 68): Didn’t put himself about as much as the other strikers, but some control and skill kept Pools going 6

Miller (for Compton 80)

(not used): Maxted (gk), Walker, Miller, Nelson-Addy, Duckworth, J Jones.

EXETER CITY (4-4-2): Hamon 5; Davies 4, Bennett 4, Moore-Taylor 5, McAllister 6; Keohane 6 (Nichols 68, 6), HARLEY 7, Oakley 6, Sercombe 5; Nicholls 5 (Wheeler 46, 6), Cummins 6 (Morrison 64, 4). Subs (not used): Butterfield, Tillson, Jay, Pym (gk).

MAN OF THE MATCH Scott Harrison – showed why he was a double player of the year award winner with a display of complete dominance