Goal:

1-0: Donaldson (62, picked up possession and his low shot beat the weak hand of the keeper)

Bookings: Featherstone (38, foul); Myles (74, foul)

Referee: Andrew Kitchen (Durham): Nothing to get upset about in the game, nothing to get involved in 7

Attendance: 2,506

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-1-3-2)

7 Killip: Called into action plenty of times. Made saves when he had to, and was sharp enough to spring across and keep out a certain second-half goal after the visitors hit the post;

6 Kioso: Even at right-back rather than wing-back he is content and able to attack and has the engine on him to get up and down all afternoon

7 Raynes: Did the job needed on the day, experienced head at the back and won header after header when the opposition flung the ball forward

6 Kerr: Conditions weren’t meant for nice football, it was all about simply clearing defensive lines when you had to

6 Kitching: Clearly targeted early in the game by the visitors who tried to play against him and get past him, but he wasn’t bothered by it;

5 Mafuta: Strong in the middle and it’s a sight to behold when he does lose the ball and instantly muscles his way back to reclaim it;

5 Featherstone: Didn’t find much room or space to move the ball around in his usual manner and was a bit too sloppy in possession

5 Donaldson: His low strike won the game, but failed to make much headway when he ran at the opposition from deep and was quiet by his usual standards

5 Hawkes: Like the others in midfield, he lacked the ability to grab the game and dictate things against part-time opposition. Bogged down on the ball too often;

5 Toure: When he gets the ball there’s an expectation he will create something, but sometimes Pools rely on him to do it too much and when it doesn’t happen things go flat

5 Kabamba: Should have scored when played in on goal later on, but clipped his finish at the keeper. Hit and miss when it came to holding the ball up for others.

Subs:

Holohan (for Hawkes 63): A willingness to break forward from midfield was evident after his arrival 6

James (for Toure 71)

(not used): Bale, Muir, Richardson, Cunningham.

BRACKLEY TOWN (4-4-2): Lewis 5; Myles 6 (Daire 84), Audel 6, Dean 6, Franklin 6; Lowe 7, Byrne 7, Walker 6, Armson 6; Baker 6 (Fairlamb 66, 5), Ndlovu 7 (Holman 87). Subs (not used): Murombedzi, Langmead, Worby, Noon.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Ben Killip. The goalkeeper’s smart saves ensured Pools made the first round on a testing afternoon.