Goals:
0-1: Williams (31, turned in from close range from an offside position, but the ball came off a Pools player on the way)
1-1: Rodney (74, picked his spot from 10 yards as the ball bounced around the area)
2-1: Rodney (83, Amond broke away, picked him out and the substitute rounded the keeper and showed his composure to score)
Bookings: McCulloch (36,foul); Magnay (82, foul); McSheffrey (85, foul); Grant (90, foul)
Referee: Mark Brown (Hull): Seemed to use the game as an audition for the Premier League in front of the Sky cameras 4
Attendance: 6,799
Entertainment: 5/5
Hartlepool United (4-3-1-2):
7 Carson: A fine early save prevented it being an edgy start for Pools and he did all that was asked;
7 Donnelly: The player of late, sent-off at Orient, was replaced by the player who looked so accomplished in the first-half of the season
7 Walker: After a few flat games, he played with authority this time, using the ball confidently from the back
7 Harrison: Strong and dominant defensively, cleared his lines when he had to, and cut a devastated figure at the end
8 Magnay: Drove forward from left back at every opportunity, galvanised his team-mates, with his committed display;
6 Hawkins: Moved to a more central role when Pools threw bodies up front to win the game, but did a good job all afternoon
6 Featherstone: A textbook display from him, kept the ball, moved it around, passed it simply and knitted Pools together
6 Woods: Pools were a better team when he was replaced as they changed shape and their outlook to win the game;
8 Alessandra: One of his busier and livelier games for Pools, involved plenty and usually at the hub of what Pools did;
7 Oates: Ran himself into the ground, chased, harassed and challenged for everything all afternoon before he was replaced
7 Amond: Playing up front with support saw him impress – it’s not rocket science is it? Played with a real determination to make the most of the last chance.
Subs:
Deverdics (for Woods 60): Got involved, looked lively and more of the player expected when he signed rather than the one who has faltered all season 7
RODNEY (for Featherstone 67): So close to being the unlikely hero. Took his goals with some real composure 9
Simpson (for Oates 71)
(not used): Fryer (gk), Richards, Smith, Rooney.
Doncaster (4-4-2): Lawlor 6; Alcock 5 (McSheffrey 79), Butler 7, Wright 6, Blair 7; Rowe 6, Mason 7, McCulloch 5 (Grant 53, 5), Williams 6; Coppinger 7 (Taylor-Sinclair 73), Marquis 6. Subs (not used): Marosi, Keegan, Mandeville, May.
MAN OF THE MATCH Devante Rodney – looked a real player, nothing like he’s appeared up until Saturday, with two astute finishes in a pressure situation.
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