Goal:

1-0: Muir (7, touched home a short-worked corner for his fifth of the season)

Bookings: None

Referee: Tim Reeves (Coventry): Nothing to get involved in, and was always in control. A very safe performance 7

Attendance: 2703

Entertainment: 1/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (3-5-2):

7 Loach: One first half save kept Pools level, but his two second-half stops in the space of a minute were the difference;

7 Kioso: As the new terrace chant goes, ‘you’ll never get past Kioso’ – and so it proved. Looks so comfortable and assured as part of a back three

6 Davies: Did the job he had to do against a big, but limited centre forward. Used his experience to see Pools through it at the back

6 Magnay: Didn’t have any trouble, defended well and tried to get the ball forward into midfield in the first half to try and open up the opposition;

5 Donaldson: Tried to make inroads on the right side, but could have used his drive and pace more against limited opposition

4 Featherstone: Too pedestrian, too slow in possession. Pools needed to move the ball forward and move it around quicker and he is normally the one to dictate the pace

4 Noble: A quiet game. Should have had a field day in midfield and ran the show, instead he kept trying but not a lot came off

5 Woods: Crowded and congested in his favourite area just off the front men, and never able to free up any space to make the most of openings

5 Kitching: Seemed to try and get forward, akin to Donaldson, without really finding that killer cross or decisive ball into the area;

4 James: Did his usual chasing and harassing. Little opportunity to turn the back four and get in behind them and again spent time scavenging for the ball in areas where he wouldn’t hurt the opposition

5 Muir: Scored one, should have had two, but spent too much time outside the penalty area when getting in there could have been more rewarding.

Subs:

Hawkes (for Noble 66): Didn’t have much impact and didn’t have much chance to make an impression with the ball 5

McLaughlin (for Woods 66): Another like for like change with the player who he alternates with 4

Dinanga (for Muir 90)

(not used): Catterick (gk), Hawkins, Anderson, Richardson.

KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Kurasik 7; Freeland 6, Butler 6, Rhodes 6, Morris 6; Diskin 7 (Cole 85), Williams 6, Bergin 6, Williamson 6; Budrys 6 (Saxon 65, 5), Malbon 6. Subs (not used): Burzynski (gk), Barai, Twyford, Jepson, Austin.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Scott Loach – three clean sheets in three games and when he was called upon, making two vital second half stops, he was there to make them.