Goals:

1-0: McGeehan (5, free header nodded across goal after losing the attention of Harewood)

2-0: Cullen pen (foul by Tshibola, spot kick rolled low past Flinders)

3-0: Griffiths (75, scrambled in from close range after another corner caused carnage)

Bookings: Austin (43, foul), Featherstone (90, foul)

Referee: Gary Sutton (Lincoln): Few decisions to make really, penalty call was correct 7

Attendance: 8,231

Entertainment: 2/5

LUTON TOWN (4-4-2): Justham 5; Harriman 7, Wilkinson 6, McNulty 6, Griffiths 6; Whalley 6 (Hall 75), McGeehan 6, Smith 7, Howells 8 (Gutteridge 82); Lee 7 (Miller 87), Cullen 7. Subs (not used): Lacey, Wall, Miller, Kinsella, King (gk)

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):

8 FLINDERS: Flat for the first goal, but if it wasn’t for his first-half saves, Pools would have been five-down;

4 Duckworth: Pressed back by the direct nature of Luton’s Howells and didn’t have much impact on the game;

4 Harrison: Uneasy and unsettled as the mobile home strikers caused problems with their direct running

4 D Jones: Like Harrison he struggled, although he kept his composure under pressure and stuck to his task

3 Austin: Never looked happy and when Pools needed to call on his nous and experience as part of a young first-half it wasn’t there;

7 Franks: Pools brightest outfield performer for an hour when he played wide and went close a couple of times, while crossing from open play was good

4 Tshibola: Game passed him by for the vast majority in another disappointing display in midfield. Not having the impact he is capable of

6 Featherstone: Busy on the ball, but didn’t have much support or options available when he had it

4 Fenwick: Asked to do an unfamiliar job out wide and, while returning from injury it didn’t work;

3 Harewood: Another flat display, never laid a glove on the home defenders and impact was minimal

3 Hugill: No service into him at all, never a threat, and didn’t get involved up front.

Subs:

J Jones (for Fenwick 63): Came on when Pools were on top, but didn’t contribute a great deal on the right wing 5

Nelson-Addy (for Hugill 77)

(not used): Bates, Walker, Parnaby, Maxted (gk), Richards.

MAN OF THE MATCH Scott Flinders – kept Pools in it first half with save after save