Goals:

1-0: Franks (8, cracked in from close range after a low Tshibola ball across the area from the left)

1-1: Brunt (30, shot low past Flinders from the edge of the area)

2-1: Franks (54, picked out after some fine work from Woods to finish first-time low and crisp)

3-1: Fenwick (76, swept in first-time from ten yards after Duckworth set him up)

Bookings: Woods (56, foul); Nelson (unsporting behaviour 61); Flanagan (foul 61)

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Manchester): Bottled the decisions – had to book Flanagan for a second time after a blatant foul and somehow he failed to give Plymouth an injury time penalty which was as clear as you will ever see 3

Attendance: 3,291

Entertainment: 4/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3):

7 Flinders: Movement was restricted by a rib injury, but didn’t stop him taking control and command;

6 Duckworth: Picking his moments to get forward and laid the ball for Fenwick to score after a well-timed foray forward

7 Harrison: Using the ball well from the back all the time and doing his main job of defending well

7 Jones: Slotted in seamlessly in the middle and uses his body well to block off strikers. Fortunate to escape conceding a penalty

6 Austin: Looking solid and kept his position. Carried on from where he left off against Tranmere;

8 Bates: Sitting deep in midfield is suiting him no end, clever in the middle of the park and reading the game well

7 Tshibola: Strong, roams around for the ball and looks a player. Set up the opening goal very well

7 Woods: Great skill and movement to help set up the second goal for Franks and again was influential;

8 Fenwick: Wide left, but always on the move and put some real shift in up and down the flank

6 Bingham: A lively option up front, without having much direct influence on the game

8 Franks: Two goals, and some cracking delivery. His best of the season by some way.

Subs (not used): Maxted (gk), Holden, Walker, Harewood, Compton, Featherstone, Richards.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (4-4-2): McCormick 6; Mellor 7, Nelson 6, Flanagan 3 (Hartley 67, 4), McHugh 5; Talbot 6 (Purrington 67, 4), Cox 6, B Reid 7, Allesandra 7; Brunt 6 (Lee 67, 5), R Reid 7. Subs (not used): Bittner (gk), Noburn, Thomas, Bentley.

MAN OF THE MATCH

JON Franks – took his goals well and can take real confidence from this performance