Goals:
0-1: Minshull OG (16, header from eight yards which drifted in off the post, at the wrong end)
0-2: Hugill (37, bundled home after pressure, started when Franks hit the crossbar)
1-2: Jones (44, sweet strike from the edge of area that gave Flinders no chance)
2-2: O’Connor (48, precise finish, following some sloppy defending from Pools)
Bookings: Harrison (10, dissent), Mirfin (66, foul on Jeffers), Jones (82, foul on Jeffers)
Referee: Kevin Johnson (Weston-Super-Mare): A last minute replacement after the original referee pulled out on match day 4
Attendance: 3,531
Entertainment: 3/5
HARTLEPOOL UNITED (3-5-2):
7 Flinders: Impressive first half where he gaves Pools a platform to race into a 2-0 lead. Blameless when beaten by Jones’ thunderbolt.
6 Harrison: Booked early on and walked tightrope. Distribution good, but pace of Newport’s strikers caused a little bother and looked like might lose composure. Taken off before sent off.
7: Mirfin: Another big display from Pools loanee. A really calm presence and pushed forward when he could but lost O’Connor for second Newport goal
7 Jones: Seems to relish the dark art of defending properly and is a key cog in the defensive trio so instrumental in Pools’ amazing revival. Calm display;
8 Duckworth: Instrumental in the 2-0 lead and did all he could to extend it. His superb cross created the first goal
7 Featherstone: The fulcrum of the side, but won less midfield battles as the contest wore on against a combative Newport trio
6 Walker: Worked tirelessly and another who seems to enjoy playing in a three. Might have shot in the first period, but opted to pass and move was squandered.
7 Tshibola: Given attacking license with two midfielders covering him and made crucial pass to allow Pools to race into a 2-0 advantage. A key assist.
7 Austin: Wingback might be unfamiliar but you wouldn’t know it, is proving to be Stone Cold solid as a defensive player who gets up and down all game;
7 Hugill: Might not be Ryan Bird, but Hugill never stops working and deserved his goal for so much endeavour
8 FRANKS: So intelligent in his movement. Terrorised Newport for long periods, on another day might have had a hat-trick.
Subs:
J Jones (for Harrison 77)
M Harewood (for Hugill 86)
(not used): Maxted (gk), Nelson-Addy, Hawkins, Richards, Smith,
Newport: (3-5-2): Day 6, Jones 8, Yakubu 6, Sandell 6, Klukowski 7 (Jeffers 62, 6) Tutonda 5, Porter 5 (Chapman 82), Minshull 5, Byrne 6, Storey 6, O’Connor 7. Subs (not used): Stephens, Poole, Flynn, Collins, Parker.
MAN OF THE MATCH Jonathan Franks – bossed the first half and might have put Pools out of sight.
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