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.