Goals:

0-1: Rooney (2, got in behind Edgar to volley in smartly)

1-1: Featherstone (50, finished off a delightful move, turning in Kabamba’s nod down from close range)

2-1: Kabamba (69, simple tap-in after Noble’s effort was blocked and pushed into his path)

3-1: James (75, Molyneux cut through the defence and picked out the player of the year to push in from 10 yards)

3-2: Dieseruvwe (90, poked in from inside the six-yard box to meet a left-sided cross)

Bookings: Booked: Piergianni (foul 17), Green (26, foul), Mafuta (41, foul), Hogan (64, foul)

Sending-off: Green (45, second bookable offence, foul)

Referee: Andrew Miller (Consett): You never know what you are going to get with him in charge – and this time a sending-off was always on the cards in the first-half 6

Attendance: 3,582

Entertainment: 4/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3):

7 Loach: Made two fine and vital saves to prevent Pools going two-down on his 100th – and possibly final? – Pools appearance;

7 Kioso: What a find he’s been all season. Competitive and strong, he will be an even better player next time out

4 Edgar: Caught napping for the opening goal early on, and his game ended with a hamstring pull. He won’t be seen in a Pools shirt again with his contract up

6 Anderson: Played more games this season than he has in his career and he’s proved a solid and reliable enough defender on occasions

7 Kitching: With plenty of freedom to got forward on the left side, he made the most of it. Used the ball well and was a late call-up after Kerr failed a fitness test;

8 Featherstone: Lovely move and finish for his goal. Always had time to pick his pass and keep possession. Will he stay or will he go?

8 Noble: Ran the game at times from the middle, dictating play and feeding the attackers. The game had an edge to it and he revels in those occasions

8 Donaldson: The second-half he had more possession than some players have in a month. Move to right back in the reshuffle and he relished it;

7 James: Supporters’ player of the year ended his season with a deserved goal. If only he could get 20 goals next season …

8 Kabamba: Geography means it’s going to be hard for Pools to sign him now his loan is up. Links up play well and is always available up top

8 Molyneux: Pools want to sign him permanently, but he’s likely to be in demand this summer. Floats around the pitch and caused havoc on Saturday.

Subs:

Holohan (for Edgar 42): Struck the bar with a thumping shot and has showed enough to be worth a deal for next season 6

Hawkes (for Noble 88)

Richardson (for Kioso 88)

(not used): Muir, Bale.

SALFORD CITY (4-3-3): Neal 6; Hogan 7, Maynard 6, Piergianni 7 (Linganzi 70, 5); Wiseman 7, Mafut 5, (Redmond 66, 5), Whitehead 6, Touray 5; Lloyd 6; Green 5, Rooney 6 (Dieseruvwe 63, 5). Subs (not used): Crocombe (gk), Walker.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Liam Noble. On his day he’s as influential as can be – and this was one of those days he enjoyed from the off.