Goals
1-0: Ironside (52, neat low angled finish from a searching Schmeltz pass)
1-1: Hylton (65, turned in a left-wing cross from close range)
Bookings: Rose (foul 23), Woods (foul 45), Harewood (foul 61)
Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland): Never the most convincing off officials is he? 5
Attendance: 4,070
Entertainment: 3/5
HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):
6 Flinders: Different goalkeeper when he’s not left open and exposed like he has been too often this season;
5 Austin: Played right-back this time, but goal came because of a cross from his area
6 Bates: Much improved on the previous week, helped rookie Jones through the game. Could he have got tighter for the goal?
6 Jones: Kept it simple first-half. He’s not a centre-half by trade, but did enough to suggest he can play there
5 Holden: Obviously told to stay back and not gallop forward. While that takes away some of his energy, it makes him a better defender for it;
6 Franks: Busy again, almost won it for Pools in injury time with a low, firmly-struck volley
4 Featherstone: Late call-up when Dolan was injured in the warm-up, but too quiet, again didn’t pass or have any say on the tempo of the game
6 Woods: Put himself about in a central role, and full of enthusiasm but some of his passing let him down
6 Schmeltz: Is he cut out for a League Two relegation scrap? Delightful ball for Pools’ goal hinted he can be;
6 Harewood: Again put himself about up top, and welcomed the support he had around him. Needs to be a goal threat however.
7 IRONSIDE: Raw but willing, chased and harassed and took his goal very well.
Subs:
Compton (for Schmeltz 74)
Fenwick (for Ironside 80)
(not used): Maxtead (gk), Richards, Lanzoni, Green.
OXFORD UNITED (4-2-3-1): Clarke 8; Riley 6, Wright 6, Mullins 5 (Dunkley 31, 4), Holmes-Dennis 6; Whing 5, Rose 7; Burns 6, Collins 6, Hylton 6; Campbell 4 (Meades 56, 5). Subs (not used): Potter, Ruffels, O’Dowda, Crocombe, Ashby.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Joe Ironside – a very encouraging first start, full of running and effort
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