Goals:

1-0: Ellison (4, swept in a low shot after a weak Laing clearance landed at his feet)

2-0: Fleming (67, charged through the middle as the defence parted to finish low under Loach)

3-0: Loach OG (88, low Campbell shot came off the post, hit the keeper on the back and rolled in)

Bookings: Donnelly (6, foul); Featherstone (79, foul)

Referee: Tom Neild (Huddersfield): For a spell in the second half he lost any semblance of control 4

Attendance: 2087

Entertainment: 2/5

MORECAMBE (4-2-3-1): Roche 6, McGowan 6, Muller 7, Old 6, Brough 6; Fleming 7, Kenyon 7; Thompson 6, Wildig 6 (Campbell 71), Ellison 7; McGurk 6 (Oliver 60, 6). Subs (not used): Nizic (gk), Conlan, Lavelle, Osborne, Rose.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-1-4-1):

5 Loach: Made his first save after 24 seconds and left exposed by his defenders at times. Could do nothing with the unfortunate nature of his own goal;

6 Richardson: Up against the home side’s wiliest player in Ellison and stuck to the task. Showed his inexperience at times, but did go close with a header

4 Laing: Played well of late, but this wasn’t a good show. Poor clearances gifted the home side goals and looked ragged and loose for periods

4 Donnelly: Like his partner Laing he suffered in the middle of the back four. Made plenty of challenges and tackles, but wasn’t happy in possession. Booked for a fine and firm tackle

4 Adams: Busy and never hid from wanting the ball and always available as an outlet on the left side without finding that killer pass he was looking for;

6 Featherstone: Deep in front of the back four to try and pass the ball around, but in a crowded area he didn’t get much joy in there;

5 Franks: Busy and direct on occasions and had Pools best chance when his close range finish was smartly saved

5 George: Puts himself about in midfield, but can he and Featherstone play in the same side?

5 Woods: Too quiet and on the edge of the game for too long when he needs to be involved to make Pools tick

5 Deverdics: Little impact going forward and even his dead ball delivery was a let-down this time;

5 Oates: Won a few headers, but was flicking onto no one without the support required from deep. Looked sharp when he took a right-sided role later on.

Subs:

Rodney (for Woods 60): Put through the middle and held the ball up without looking like a threat 5

Munns (for George 74)

(not used): Catterick (gk), Harrison, Hawkins, Newton, Simpson.

MAN OF THE MATCH Alex Kenyon – set the standards in midfield for the home side