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.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here