Goal:

1-0: Wright (17, touched a header in from close range after being left unmarked to meet a high cross)

Bookings: Woods (21, foul); Amond (60, dissent), Cranston (76 time wasting)

Referee: Ben Toner (Darwen): Some soft free-kicks, allowed some gamesmanship from Cheltenham 6

Attendance: 5,021

Entertainment: 3/5

CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-4-2): Brown 8; Winchester 6 (Cranston 46, 6), Boyle 6, Onaraise 6, Davis 5; Pell 7, Rowe 6, Storer 6, Waters 7; Holman 5 (Downes 62), Wright 6 (Wootton 77). Subs (not used): Munns, Kitscha (gk), Wootton, Dayton, O’Shaughnessy.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3):

6 Carson: A surprise return to the side, but a welcome one – and he actually had very little to do;

6 Richards: Back from a loan spell and didn’t let anyone down with a solid and comfortable display at right back

7 Harrison: Showed his desire and commitment. Won plenty of headers, and enjoyed the physical aspect of the game

6 Walker: Shifted the ball forward simply when he had to, could have done better for the goal as he switched off

7 Magnay: Another game chalked up on his return from injury. Fully committed, and tried to drive Pools forward from the left side;

6 Featherstone: Got involved in the middle of the pitch more than he been able to of late, went close with a last-minute shot

6 Woods: An early booking seemed to curtail his energy in the middle and wasn’t as influential as he could have been following it

7 Hawkins: Busy, roamed around for the ball and used it well before he tried and was replaced in the second half;

5 Thomas: Given a licence to get around the pitch and get involved where he wanted, but despite the odd flurry it didn’t really happen for him and replaced after feeling effects of a knee problem

6 Alessandra: Played most of the game on the turn or with his back to goal as he tried to offer a wide outlet ball for the defence and midfielders

7 Amond: Chased the back four and tried to get behind them. Unlucky not to score when he intercepted a shot back pass, denied by the keeper.

Sub:

Simpson (for Hawkins 77)

(not used): Bates, Oates, Deverdics, Rooney, Rodney, Fryer (gk).

MAN OF THE MATCH Scott Brown – the home keeper made two vital close-range stops to prevent Pools winning.