Goals:
1-0: Brown (10, cut a path too easily through the Pools back four to finish low)
1-1: Duckworth (52, bounced a volley into the net, deflection catching keeper Evtimov flat-footed)
Bookings: Tafazolli (16, foul); Woods (45, foul), Fenwick (80, foul); Duckworth (82, foul), McGuire (88, unsporting behavour), Waterfall (90, foul)
Sendings-off: Tafazolli (72, second bookable offence, foul); Harewood (87, violent conduct); Woods (90, foul)
Referee: Scott Mathieson (Stockport): Had plenty to do in the second half, let down at times by an errant assistant. Came under pressure from the home players and wilted by sending Harewood off 4
Attendance: 3,357
Entertainment: 5/5
MANSFIELD TOWN (3-4-1-2): Evtimov 5; Sutton 6, Tafazolli 6, Waterfall 7; Brown 7, Freeman 5, Clements 6, McGuire 6, Brown 6; Lambe 7 (Riley 75); Rhead 7 (Bingham 78), Oliver 7. Subs (not used): Studer (gk), Bell, Palmer, Heslop, Beevers.
HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):
6 Flinders: Had to be on top of his game and his handling and decision making was mostly sound. Scooped the ball behind him and it should have been a goal;
6 Austin: Rugged and solid out wide on the right, had a difficult opponent in Brown, but generally dealt with him well
8 JONES: Strong in central defence. Read the game well and can be pleased with his two recent performances
7 Bates: Did what was asked, won his headers, covered Jones when he had to and gave a far improved display than of late
6 Holden: Again disciplined in keeping back with his other defenders throughout. A better player for it;
5 Franks: So infuriating – never hid, saw plenty of the ball, always showed for it. Final delivery – pass, shot or cross was poor
6 Featherstone: Came out of his shell in the second half, controlled the play in midfield at times and looked more like the player he was when he first signed
4 Woods: Quite what he was doing getting himself off at the end is anyone’s guess. Needless involvement with defender to see red at the end
7 Duckworth: First game back from injury and was full of running all afternoon. Never showed signs of tiredness;
6 Harewood: Second-half did what is expected and held the ball up and chased. Sent-off and no-one really knows what for
6 Ironside: Another who gave two different displays – second half much improved as he put his body between defender and ball to good effect.
Sub:
Fenwick (for Ironside 78)
(not used): Walker, Compton, Lanzoni, Schmeltz, Green, Maxted (gk).
MAN OF THE MATCH DAN Jones – never shirked responsibility in a very mature defensive performance
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