Goals:

1-0: Oates (39, tapped in from close range after keeper pushed out Rodney’s low shot)

1-1: Wright (90, far post volley cracked in from a left-sided cross)

Bookings: Rodney (62, foul); Laing (65, foul); Thomas (68, foul)l Adams (82, foul); Coombes (87, foul); Donnelly (87, foul)

Referee: Daniel Middleton (Derby): Had a really daft spell when he booked players for the sake of it and frustrated the players regularly 4

Attendance: 3,097

Entertainment: 2/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3)

7 Loach: Once again kept Pools in the game as he made saves when his side was put under pressure;

7 Magnay: Combative and competitive, drove Pools forward in the second-half at times as he set the aggressive standard

6 Laing: Playing better than the start of the season, defending simpler and he’s more affective for it

7 Ledger: Displays more maturity than his experience should allow. Reads the game well and always tight against his opponent when he needed to be

6 Deverdics: Ploughed forward in the first-half especially as an attacking outlet. Defensively, however, was he tight enough to his man for the leveller?;

5 Hawkins: Busy and had freedom to get about the pitch to close down and pick up possession where he needed to

7 Donnelly: More forceful than Featherstone in central midfield, added a physical presence and looked settled in that role

5 Woods: Probably didn’t get on the ball enough and prompt Pools into attacking action like he can;

6 Rodney: In a formation which allowed the front men to interchange, he moved around to good effect and Pools scored from his shot

6 Oates: Right place, right time for his goal and his honesty suits the formation and set-up Pools have adopted

6 Franks: Played wide and in the middle, but made the wrong option to shoot when he should have fed Rodney to make it two.

Subs:

Adams (for Rodney 74)

Simpson (for Oates 77)

George (for Woods 89)

(not used): Harrison, Munns.

SUTTON UNITED (4-3-3): Butler 4; Bailey 7, John 5, Collins 6, Thomas 6; Davis 5 (Coombes 85), Walton 4 (Wright 51), Eastmond 7; Cadogan 6, Lafayette 6 (Dundas 70, 5), Taylor 6. Subs (not used): Beckwith, Spence.

MAN OF THE MATCH Liam Donnelly – enjoyed being pitched into central midfield and gave Pools a firm platform.