Goals:

0-1: Alalzour (39, free-kick blocked, chipped into his path and he fired a low, angled shot across the keeper)

1-1: Kabamba (51, inviting cross from Amos into the area and the striker dived in to head home)

2-1: Hawkes (59, Kabmaba bundled over and midfielder slotted in confidently)

Bookings: Kabamba (43, foul); James (45, foul); Anderson (72, foul)

Referee: Rachel Welch (Durham): A very assured display, was always in control. Correct to award Pools a penalty, but the visitors felt aggrieved they didn’t get one 7

Attendance: 2769

Entertainment: 3/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (3-4-2-1):

6 Loach: Steady performance in his area, cut off his near post and was beaten at the far post for the goal;

7 Kioso: Never given a chance under the previous boss, but he will again be a regular from now on. Solid and read situations well

7 Raynes: A composed figure in the middle of the back three, talked, organised and did everything right

6 Anderson: Lack of pace was exposed at times, but attacked plenty of balls in the air and won his fair share of them;

5 Richardson: Didn’t offer enough drive on the right side and was replaced at half-time in a tactical reshuffle

6 Featherstone: Immeasurably improved on his last outing and played some inviting balls for the attackers to latch onto in the second half

7 Donaldson: Moved to the right flank where he enjoyed the second-half. Drove forward and offered Pools so much more out wide than in the middle

7 Amos: Delightful cross for the leveller and stuck to his task at left wing-back with some incisive passing forward;

7 Molyneux: Another who was better in the second 45 minutes after the shift in formation. Always looks a threat when he has the ball because he can create space from nothing

7 Hawkes: Like Kioso, he will get games under Hignett. Composed and assured in slotting home the winning penalty;

7 Kabamba: Two games, two goals. A willing workhorse up front, who is happy to chase and his efforts are appreciated by the crowd.

Subs:

JAMES (for Richardson 46): Putting an extra striker on up front to stretch the opposition made all the difference 7

Kitching (for Amos 73)

Cassidy (for Kabamba 82)

(not used): Catterick, Muir.

Booked: Kabamba (43, foul); James (45, foul); Anderson (72, foul)

BRAINTREE TOWN (4-4-2): Killip 5; Eleftheriou 7, Lyons-Foster 6, Atkinson 7, Gabriel 6; James 7, Allen 6, Richards 6 (Della-Verde 62, 5), Rowe 6 (Barrington 74); Morton 6, Amaluzor 7. Subs (not used): Matsuzaka, Allen, Sagaf.

MAN OF THE MATCH Luke James – after being viewed as a winger by Money, pitching him back through the middle changed the game around.