Goals:

1-0: Buxton (23, powerful and perfectly-judged free-kick gave Accrington a deserved lead)

2-0: McCartan (45, pace and close control combined when he surged through to beat Carson)

3-0: (McCartan 58, another slick finish as he guided a shot inside the post from the edge of the area)

3-1: (Bingham, 77, a consolation as the sub powered an angled shot past Mooney and inside the far post)

Bookings: Thomas (33, foul) Richards (82, foul)

Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincoln): The RAF sergeant was under the radar on a quiet night until he annoyed Hartlepool by rejecting penalty claims when Bingham went down in the closing stages. 6

Attendance: 1,211

Entertainment: 4/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3)

8 CARSON: Dealt well with crosses and looked sharp off his line. He also made three important early saves.

5 Richards: Stuck to his task, but a difficult night again the lively McConville, particularly when he linked with Mingoia

4 S Harrison: Another who found life difficult against a lively Accrington attack that kept the ball on the ground whenever possible

6 Jackson: Similar problems to his back four partners, although his passing from the back was some compensation for his defensive difficulties.

5 Carroll: Had the toughest task of all against Mingoia, who roamed intelligently across the forward line and was too sharp for the left-back;

4 Woods: Normally so good at breaking down opposition attacks, but he was bypassed too often last night and made little impact before being subbed.

5 Featherstone: Struggled to have any influence, but his workrate was impressive and he kept going until the inevitable end.

5 Oates: His attacking instincts were tamed as he tried, largely in vain, to close down the Accrington midfielders.

6 E Harrison: The latest arrival on loan from Bristol Rovers made an instant impact - his first touch was a foul - but not afraid to work hard and struck the post.

5 Fenwick: A thankless task in the forward line as he was given little to work with because Pools were pinned back for long periods.

4 Thomas: Used down the left flank, but had trouble finding space and spent much of the match backtracking rather than posing an attack threat.

Subs:

Hawkins (for Thomas 61)

Bingham (for Fenwick 61

Gray (for Thomas 63)

(not used): Bartlett (gk), Walker, Jones, Smith.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY ( 4-4-1-1) Mooney 6; Halliday 6, Wright 6, Pearson 6, Buxton 7; Mingoia 7, Crooks 8, Conneely 6, McConville 7 (Procter 90); McCartan 9 (Bruna 83); Kee 7 (Gornell 75). Subs (not used): Etheridge (gk), Barry, Davies, Wakefield.

MAN OF THE MATCH Shay McCartan - stretched Hartlepool’s defence with his pace and mobility while producing two stylish goals.