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