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.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here