Goals:

0-1: Thomas (21, bundled in from close range amid a frantic goalmouth scramble)

1-1: Muir (46, corner ended up in the six-yard box and striker was there to net)

2-1: Noble (50, free-kick from the left curled in via a deflection)

2-2: Bolarinwa (64, low finish under Loach on the right side from a breakaway)

2-3: Eastmond (80, angled shot across Loach after Sutton made the most of some slack defending)

Bookings: Eastmond (18, foul); Kitching (24, foul); Bennett (45, foul); Davis (88, foul)

Referee: Andrew Miller (Consett): Not the first time he’s left Hartlepool with lots of questions about his performance. Fudged a second booking for the visitors Bennett 4

Attendance: 2,788

Entertainment: 2/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (3-5-2):

5 Loach: Made a fine low stop to his right with the score 0-0, although not convincing with his role in the first goal;

7 KIOSO: Become a real accomplished defender and a crowd favourite. Always tries to move the ball on positively and loves the art of committed defending

6 Davies: Unable to dominate in the air in tricky conditions and part of the defensive malaise which led to the winning goal

6 Magnay: Pools have been trying to get him on the ball more to bring it out of defence and he is comfortable in possession, but like Davies culpable for the decisive goal;

7 Donaldson: Always looking to get ahead, first half especially when he was direct and a problem for the opposition

7 Noble: Improved in the second half and when he gets on the ball and dictates the tempo then Pools are a better team

6 McLaughlin: Too quiet first half, but when Pools were on top at the start of the second half he was more influential

4 Featherstone: Didn’t make enough impact on the ball. Seemed to be more disciplined in more of a holding role in front of the back four in the second period

4 Kitching: Allowed his man a free header at the far post which brought about the first goal. Played an advanced first-half role, without delivering the key ball;

6 Muir: Another poachers finish, turning in from close range. Could be Pools’ fox in the box – if he spent more time in there

6 James: Given a tough time of it throughout, with little service to get in on goal and was often beaten and frustrated by the visiting defenders.

Subs:

Woods (for McLaughlin 83)

Dinanga (for Featherstone 84)

(not used: Hawkins, Hawkes, Anderson.

SUTTON UNITED (3-4-3): Butler 6; Clough 7, Collins 7, Thomas 6; Bennett 6, Eastmond 7, Ayunga 6 (Wishart 74), Davis 6 (Brown 89); Cadogan 6 (Beautyman 83), Bolarinwa 6, Drinan 6. Subs (not used): Beckwith, Taylor.

MAN OF THE MATCH Peter Kioso – again proved his value on the ball and with his defensive sharpness