Goals:

1-0: Cicilia (12, low ball into the near post, turned and finished)

2-0: Carroll OG (14, cross from the left and defender touched it in at the far post)

3-0: Jones (31, got the better of Carroll to finish low)

4-0: Taylor pen (56, weak Jones foul, penalty sent Carson the wrong way)

Bookings: Laurent (50, foul); Cicilia (78, kicking ball away), Hawkins (90, foul)

Referee: Darren Handley (Altringham): Pools didn’t lose because of him, but a bit petty in sending Hignett to the stands and he infurated Pools at times 5

Attendance: 3,514

Entertainment: 1/5

PORT VALE (4-2-3-1): Alnwick 6; Taylor 7, Streete 7, Smith 8, Kiko 6; Amoros 7, Tavares 8 (Gibbons 60, 5); JONES 8 (Shalaj 72), Kelly 7 (Mbamba 82), De Freitas 7; Cicilia 8. Subs (not used): Macintosch, Paterson, Pereira, Santos.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3):

4 Carson: Open and exposed by some terrible defending in front of him, but showed a bit of hesistancy at times;

2 Nsisla: He’s not a right back and how it showed. Positionally unaware and some of his decision-making was woeful

4 Bates: Turned and beaten too easily for the first goal and Pools needed his nous and experience at times and it wasn’t there

3 Jones: Poor foul for the penalty and was guilty of wandering over the pitch and switching off when he should be leading

3 Carroll: Turned a cross into his own net, beaten for the third goal and was placed under regular pressure from the home side;

4 Featherstone: Replaced in the second half, but had very little say in the game against a midfield who were busier and more effective

3 Laurent: No impact on the game, needs to be taken out of the team after performances have tailed off of late

3 Woods: First start in a while and it showed, those little passes he likes to make didn’t happen and struggled;

3 Alessandra: Another who didn’t have a say and never laid a hand on the opposition from start to finish

3 Amond: Chances on goal – zero; chances created for him – zero. Left very isolated with no support

4 Deverdics: His set-pieces were the sole source of impact in the opposition penalty area.

Subs:

PAYNTER (for Alessandra 53): Put himself about and offered a presence up front 5

Hawkins (for Featherstone 53): Mobile and brought some energy 5

Richards (for Jones 65): A tough point to be introduced 5

(not used): Bartlett (gk), Martin, Orrell, Oates.

MAN OF THE MATCH ALEX Jones – always a threat out wide with his pace