Goals:

1-0: Dempsey (25, curling shot skidded and bounced beyond Flinders)

2-0: Rigg (31, touched in a deep cross from close range after being left unmarked)

3-0: Kennedy (33 headed in from yards out after Pools failed to deal with a corner)

3-1: Hugill (64, tapped home after Tshibola’s effort was blocked)

3-2: Duckworth (66, marched forward, took a return pass from Harewood and cracked in superbly from 25 yards)

3-3: Hugill (86, another from six yards, this time after Tshibola picked him out with a low cross)

Bookings: None

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Stockport): His final game as a referee after years of service and was as sensible as he usually is 8

Attendance: 8,105

Entertainment: 5/5

CARLISLE UNITED (4-4-2): Gillespie 5; Young 5, Buddle 4, Atkinson 4, Brough 6; Dempsey 8, Kennedy 7, Sweeney 5 (Hammell 46, 5), Potts 6 (Thirlwell 75); Rigg 5 (Taylor 61, 4), Wyke 6. Subs (not used): Hanford (gk), O’Hanlon, Douglas, Griffith.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (3-5-2):

5 Flinders: Slack to be beaten three times in the opening half – third goal especially poor as he lost his bearings;

7 Austin: Distribution wasn’t great, but kept Pools in it during the second half with three vital clearances and blocks – one on the line as spectacular as you will see

6 Harrison: Full of confidence surging forward in possession, without being as solid as he has been

6 Bates: Like Austin made one particularly vital close-range block – and almost won it with the most spectacular of 40 yard injury time volleys;

6 Franks: Started wing back and soon switched to an out and out winger. Poor decision making cost Pools the chance to win it at the death when he broke forward on the counter attack

6 Featherstone: Has become a real integral part of the side in recent weeks and keeping things simple has become a useful tool in this time

7 Tshibola: Signed off his time at Pools with a late assist. Any chance of getting him back next season on loan from Reading again?

4 Nelson-Addy: Looked tense and too nervous in possession and was replaced early in the second-half

7 Duckworth: Stunning goal, as he ventured forward on a rare occasion. Goal of the season winner with his strike;

4 Fenwick: Never got going, little impact before succumbing to a knee injury

7 Hugill: First-half poor and little impact, but two second-half poacher goals proved his worth as he signed off in style.

Subs:

J Jones (for Nelson-Addy 55): Gave some poise and purpose to Pools right flank 6

HAREWOOD (for Fenwick 46): Bustling and held the ball up well to cause trouble for the raw home defenders 8

(not used): Walker, Miller, Parnaby, Maxted (gk), Richards

MAN OF THE MATCH Marlon Harewood – if only he could have played like this over the course of the last 18 months – or even six months – Pools would have had a real powerhouse up front