Goals
0-1: Martin (37, in behind Duckworth after ball sailed over defender’s head to finish)
1-1: Fenwick (48, close range strike in the area after taking possession)
1-2: Kennedy (53, free header from ten yards, unmarked after Fenwick slipped, following a poor clearance)
1-3: Kennedy (65, in behind the defence, Flinders saved, but ball looped up and bounced in)
Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire): Let a lot of grappling in the penalty area go on without much interference 6
Attendance: 3,388
HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):
6: Flinders: Always looked to release the ball quickly when he had it, perhaps could have done more to keep out the third, seemed to let Mirfin try and deal with it;
4 Duckworth: Caught asleep for the opener, as he misread a routine long ball into the area. Not given much licence to attack these days and it shows
5 Harrison: Had a constant niggly battle with striker Kennedy, with the pair chirping at each other all afternoon
5 Mirfin: Started well, but caught out second half as the visitors put the pressure on Pools at the back
4 Austin: Woeful clearance from a corner gave Boro the chance to return the ball and the cross brought goal number two;
5 Compton: Not as bright or effective as he was on Tuesday, little overall impact or key deliveries into the area
7 WOODS: Again Pools’ best performer, as he was clearly targeted by the opposition and hacked at regularly
5 Tshibola: Never really got going, as the visitors – Simon Walton included – got the better of it in midfield
6 Franks: Busy, started very bright as he took the game to the opposition out wide, but like the rest of his team-mates, couldn’t keep going;
2 Harewood: In a game of this magnitude, his sole contribution was to gee up the Mill House terrace on one occasion
3 Morgan: Kept on at the break and at least he tried to keep pressing. Didn’t win much against dominant central defenders.
Subs:
Fenwick (for Harewood 46): Scored and within two minutes of his introduction managed more than Harewood did in 45 6
J Jones (for Morgan 75)
(not used): Maxted (gk), Walker, Featherstone, Fenwick, Richards, D Jones.
STEVENAGE (4-4-2): Day 6; Bond 6, Dembele 7, Wells 7, Deacon 5; Whelpdale 6, Walton 7, Parrett 7 (Lee 77), Martin 8 (Andrade 72); KENNEDY 8 (D Johnson 89), Beardsley 7. Subs (not used): Beasant (gk), Zola, Pett, R Johnson.
MAN OF THE MATCH
BEN Kennedy – for only his second start, he offered plenty of problems up front. Akin to Luke James starting out at Pools.
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