Goals:

0-1: Donnelly pen (45, right-back was fouled and then struck the penalty low to the keeper’s left)

0-2: Oates (75, deep corner kept alive by Laing, then Donnelly’s effort was backheeled in by the substitute)

1-2: Hughes (77, 20 yard free-kick curled in at the near post)

Bookings: Cassidy (32, foul); Donnelly (50, foul); Hawkins (73, foul)

Referee: Sam Purkiss (London): Gave his share of soft decisions as he tried to stop Pools players tackling 5

Attendance: 5,499

Entertainment: PPP

TRANMERE (4-4-2): Davies 5; Ridehalgh 6, Sutton 6, McNulty 6, Harris 7; Ginnelly 6, Norburn 7, Hughes 5, Cole 5 (Duggan 65, 5); Cook 6, Norwood 6. Subs: Mangan, Taylor, Monthe, Clarke.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3):

7 Loach: Key low first-half stop kept Pools level, and did everything asked of him throughout;

7 Donnelly: Started a little rusty after being out for six weeks, but soon settled and was his abrasive self before scoring a penalty

7 Laing: Won his headers and made interceptions – defended like a centre-half in this division should: simply and effectively

6 Magnay: Bates sees him as a centre-half, and like Laing he did the job well. A bit deep at times first-half as Pools’ offside line was a bit awry?

6 Adams: Competent in possession and an outlet on the left when he could be. Positional sense has improved of late;

7 Newton: Went through a big amount of graft, doing the pressing and harassing in midfield while finding space to get the ball

8 FEATHERSTONE: Head up, he moved the ball around well and was also moving forward with the ball prompting Pools

7 Hawkins: Much more effective in midfield than as an emergency right-back and can be pleased with his return to his normal position;

5 Rodney: Too quiet and didn’t hold the ball up when he had to; Pools attacking output improved when Oates was introduced

6 Cassidy: A team performance, never stopped working and chasing without much to work from in front of goal

5 Donaldson: The odd fleeting moment on the ball advanced in a front three and a fully-fit player should be a big asset next season.

Subs:

Oates (for Rodney 60): Got at the home defence and played with belief – rewarded with a neatly taken goal 7

Harrison (for Featherstone 90)

Hawkes (for Donaldson 90)

(not used): Catterick (gk), Orrell.

MAN OF THE MATCH Nicky Featherstone – quiet last week, impressive this time out and dominated the midfield