Goal:

0-1: Whitley (71, pushed a low finish across Loach after the Pools defence opened up on the left side)

Bookings: None

Referee: Marc Edwards (Durham): Little to do, but was soft in allowing the visitors to kill time when in front 6

Attendance: 3,182

Entertainment: 3/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (3-4-3):

6 Loach: Very little to do, a couple of tame effort into him from long range, before he was beaten for the only goal;

6 Magnay: Played his share of balls to the front men, and while it came off on Tuesday, it wasn’t the case this time. Looks settled in a back three

6 Davies: Won his headers, made his interceptions and should have scored in the first half. Now the big question is how long he is missing for

7 Kioso: Appeared nervy on Tuesday, but not this time. Energetic and read the game well. Pools were opened up down his side for the goal, however;

7 Richardson: Probably picked for his defensive nature against the visitor’s most direct player and stuck to his task all afternoon

5 Noble: Busy, got about the pitch, wanted the ball, but didn’t have the impact he wanted to as he got a bit frustrated on occasions

7 McLaughlin: First-half and he took time to get into the game, then became more influential and could have come away with two goals after the break

5 Kitching: Gets forward at every chance and it’s a big ask playing wide in this formation, with positioning vital for the wide men;

7 Muir: Always willing to drop deep and help out and the crowd has taken a shine to him for his efforts

5 Cassidy: Roamed around looking for possession, when with two willing runners around him he should be pinning centre-halves down without drifting wide

6 James: Like Muir never afraid to drop deep and chase, as demanded of him in the 3-4-3 system. Went close with a rasper of a first-half drive.

Subs:

Laing (for Davies 56): Looked ill at ease after replacing Davies and it was from his rushed challenge that the only goal arrived 4

Dinanga (for Cassidy 67): Plenty of movement and a willingness to try and get beyond the defenders 5

Newton (for Kioso 90)

(not used): Donaldson, Featherstone.

EBBSFLEET UNITED (3-5-2): Ashmore 6; Magri 6, King 7, Bush 6; Weston 7, Adams 6 (Whitely 61, 7), Powell 6, Drury 7, Shields 6; McQueen 6 (Cheek 68, 6), Kedwell 7 (Payne 80).

Subs (not used): Miles, Coulson.

MAN OF THE MATCH Peter Kioso – looked accomplished at the back for Pools