Goals:

1-0: Ellison (22, crisp shot curled expertly around Flinders into the far side of the net)

2-0: Ellison (81, counter attack and made the most of a Bates slip to finish low)

Bookings: Fenwick (35, foul), Mullen (42, kicking ball away), Holden (80, foul), Wiiliams (unsporting behaviour 90), Ellison (90, foul), Jones (90, unsporting behaviour)

Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincoln): Apart from a big melee at the end, not a lot to get involved in 6

Attendance: 4,108

Entertaiment: 1/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):

6 Flinders: Can’t be faulted for the goals, beaten twice with no chance for the first goal;

3 Austin: Off his game again, never looked comfortable in a ragged display. Lost the ball in the build up to the opening goal

5 Bates: Slipped to allow Redshaw in for the second goal, made the odd foray forward, but it was a struggle again

6 Jones: Another honest and youthful performance in the middle of the back four

3 Holden: Never recovered from early charges ahead when he conceded possession in giving the ball away loosely and cheaply;

5 Franks: Like last time out, saw plenty of the ball, but again didn’t deliver and his final cross and delivery constantly lets down

6 Featherstone: Busier in the middle of midfield, tried to keep Pools knitted together and move the ball around

3 Walker: Back in the side and, apart from the odd burst in the first half, struggled and looked a passenger

4 Duckworth: Two games in three days after being out inured and it caught up with him. Tightly marked and checked throughout;

4 Ironside: Put an honest shift in up front, better second half, but struggled against three dominant central defenders

3 Fenwick: Well off the pace, never got going and didn’t put himself about up top like Pools needed and he was supposed to.

Subs:

Schmeltz: (for Duckworth 61): Introduced as Pools changed the game and showed the odd spark but he’s another not good enough 4

Compton (for Fenwick 74)

MORECAMBE (3-5-2): Davies 6; Parrish 7, Hughes 8, Edwards 8; Wilson 7 (Beeley 64, 5), McCready 7 (Drummond 72), Goodall 6, Williams 7, McGowan 7; Redshaw 8, Mullen 6 (Ellison 58, 5). Subs (not used): Arestidou, Devitt, Kenyon, Amond.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Mark Hughes - a dominant force in the middle of the visiting back three.