Goals:

1-0: Guthrie (63, near post header as he met a right-wing cross)

2-0: Porter pen (79, confidently struck high into the net after Donnelly fouled Guthrie)

2-1: Thomas (83, poked a low finish across keeper Walker after Woods played him in)

Bookings: Dickensen (foul, 26), Woods (foul 57); Wright (kicking ball away 85)

Referee: Ben Toner (Darwen): Fell to pieces as the game went on. Quite what he was doing when he stopped play after a Colchester injury to take the momentum away from Pools is anyone’s guess? 3

Attendance: 3,357

COLCHESTER UNITED (3-4-1-2): Walker 6; Briggs 6, Elokibi 7, James 6; Brindley 6 (Wright 70, 5), Lapslie 7, Garvin 6, Dickenson 6; Murray 6; Porter 7 (Fosu 80), Guthrie 6 (Pyke 90). Subs (not used): Barnes, Vincent-Young, Wynter, Edge.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-5-1):

6 Fryer: Plays with a confidence and authority in his penalty area and is a safe pair of hands;

7 Richardson: Never let anyone down and stuck to his task well. Showed no nerves and looked steady

7 HARRISON: Playing as consistent as he has ever done, and is working as a defensive leader in a young and inexperienced back four

6 Walker: Slotted into a defensive role without any fuss, as he again won headers and made interceptions. One lapse when he was caught seeing the ball out of play let him down

6 Donnelly: Like Richardson on the other flank he stuck to his task firmly, without any fuss. Disappointed to get caught out for the penalty;

6 Oates: Used his strength at times effectively and his breaks from deep at pace are useful asset to the midfield

6 Alessandra: Busy and moved around the pitch in search of possession, and looking to play a role on the counter attack

6 Featherstone: Deeper than the others and didn’t have much time to play simple passes in a congested midfield area

6 Woods: Neat slide-rule pass played in Thomas for the goal and, like Featherstone, suffered from a lack of midfield space at times

7 Thomas: Was out on his feet towards the end, and he will have a key role to play in the coming weeks.

Subs:

Hawkins (for Alessandra 79)

Rooney (for Oates 79)

(not used): Smith, Martin, Hawkes, Dudzinski (gk).

MAN OF THE MATCH Scott Harrison: Dominant at the back again, and is proving his worth.