A double strike from prolific marksman Brett Ormerod condemned Hartlepool to a 2-0 defeat at Bloomfield Road this afternoon, leaving Chris Turner's side with it all to do in the return leg on Wednesday night.
Ormerod took his tally for the season to 26 with two second half goals to bring Steve McMahon's side within touching distance of a final place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
After dominating the first half, the home side finally got the goal they deserved on the hour when Ormerod latched on to a precise through ball, placing the ball past Anthony Williams.
The young striker then doubled his side's advantage on 77 when he played a clever one-two with Paul Simpson and send the ball past a beleagured Williams.
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