Goals:

0-1: Nicholls (36, ran across Harrison to meet a left-wing cross and head in)

0-2: Grant (87, turned in from close range after Nicholls put the ball in the area)

Booked: Harrison (78, foul)

Referee: Darren Handley (Bolton): This wasn’t a game with much of a competitive edge for an official to get concerned over 7

Attendance: 3,678

Entertainment: 1/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-1-1)

5 Carson: Didn’t have a lot to go, made a fine first-half save with the score at 0-0 but he’s been involved in busier games

5: Richards: Got forward first-half and put his share of crosses into the area, but there was no-one on the end of them

4 S Harrison: Held his hands up afterwards and admitted his role in the two goals conceded

5 Jackson: Didn’t do much wrong, defended firmly enough in the middle against central striker Stockley

5 Carroll: That the left-back got Pools first shot on target in after 86 minutes says it all about the team performance;

4 Hawkins: Disciplined on the flank, but didn’t create much when Pools need more at home from a winger

3 Featherstone: Never got going, uneasy in possession when he’s normally so assured and no surprise he was replaced in the second half

3 Woods: Superb the week before in picking out his passes at will, but it didn’t happen this time out when he was off the pace

4 Oates: Game over early because of injury, but impact before his enforced departure was in line with the rest of the side;

4 Gray: Free role behind the striker again, but was crowded out as the Grecians smothered any space he found;

3 Bingham: Lone striker, but didn’t get in behind the defenders with his pace or make any inroads in the penalty area.

Subs:

THOMAS (for Oates 33): The one Pools player to perform with a bit of drive and determination. Should have scored at the start of the second-half, but always a threat 7

Magnay (for Featherstone 64): Made his return in a difficult performance and tried to get about the pitch 5

Paynter (for Woods 65): Another return from injury and roamed around to link up play without making much headway 5

(not used): Bartlett (gk), Magnay, Walker, Fenwick, Jones.

EXETER CITY (3-4-3): Olejnik 5; McAllister 6, Ribeiro 6, Brown 6; Holmes 6 (Davies 60, 5), Oakley 7, Tillson 6, McCready 6; Grant 7 (Taylor 87), Stockley 7, A Nicholls 7. Subs (not used): Butterfield, Reid, Hamon, Wheeler, Watkins.

MAN OF THE MATCH Joel Grant – Exeter attacker had a free reign to do what he wanted