Goals:

1-0: Molyneux (5, knocked in from inside the penalty area after a neat cutback from Harker on the left)

2-0: Shelton (20, stooped to head in from an unmarked position to meet Molyneux’s corner from the right)

Bookings: Molyneux (45, foul); Tanner 50, foul)

Referee: Andrew Kitchen (Durham): No fuss, in a game of few incidents to get worked up about 7

Attendance: 3442

Entertainment: 2/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-1-4-1)

6 Killip: The right call to put him back in the team and he was safe in what little he had to do. Will be tested more next weekend;

6 Southam-Hailes: A fine second-half goalline clearance kept Pools’ lead intact and again made a positive impression at Victoria Park

7 Liddle: One first-half slip on the surface aside, he was composed and controlled throughout. Won plenty of headers from long balls pumped forward

7 Odusina: Gets on the job with no difficulties. Comfortable in possession and he has developed a quick understanding with Liddle in the middle of the back four

6 Kitching: Much more settled now at left-back, an improved performer this season and, in his usual manner, got forward when he had the chance;

7 Featherstone: Does what it says on the tin. Loads of time and room to manoeuvre against a midfield happy to stand off him and let him play;

6 Molyneux: A goal and assist and a booking all in 45 minutes of his first start of the season. A welcome and positive return to action

6 Donaldson: Seems more settled now he’s got a defined role in midfield and should have had more openings if his teammates had picked out his runs from deeper

7 Shelton: On loan and signing him permanently has to be on the agenda. Worked hard throughout and popped up with another goal

6 Toure: Could have ran riot at times, and did cause problems, but remains a bit of an enigma on occasions with his willingness to beat a man three times instead of once;

6 Harker: Very alert to tee up Molyneux for the opening goal rather than shooting from a decent position. Held the ball up well, first half especially.

Subs:

Mafuta (for Molyneux 67): Game was long over when he arrived and should have added to Pools tally in the closing stages 5

Keena (for Harker 82)

Hawkes (for Shelton 90)

(not used): Anderson, Richardson.

ALDERSHOT (4-2-3-1): Walker 5; Tinkler 5, Koue 2, Lyons-Foster 4, Kinsella 5; Rance 4, Rowe 4; Tanner 4 (Whittingham 68, 5), Berkeley-Agyepong 5, Chislett 4 (Panayiotou 55, 4); Bettamer 3 (Walker 45, 4). Subs (not used): Santos, Fowler.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Mark Shelton. A key component in this Pools side with his honesty and willingness to run all day.