Goal: 1-0: Bird (73, Compton opened up on the left, crossed and Bird hooked home from close range)
Bookings: Fuller (39, foul); Potter (68, foul), Winfield (90, foul)
Referee: Carl Boyeson (Hull): Agitated the home crowd at times with his decision making, allowed Akinfenwe to get away with plenty of nudges and shoves 6
Attendance: 3,345
Entertainment: 4/5
HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):
7 Flinders: Looking to get the ball away quickly and start attacks. Positioning and handling was spot on, never troubled all afternoon;
7 Duckworth: Moore had Potter down as the Dons’ dangerman out wide, but he was kept in check by a disciplined performance
8 Harrison: Dominant at the back, good movement and always in control against the big handful that is Akinfenwe
7 Mirfin: Went close to scoring with a second-half volley. A calming influence and one who Pools need to keep hold of until the end of the season
6 Austin: Like Duckworth, was up against a potential match-winner in Rigg, but also kept him quiet all afternoon;
7 Compton: Sparked to life in the second half, putting over some dangerous free-kicks and then created the winner with a burst out wide
6 Woods: Season over with injury – will be a big loss to Pools after being very impressive and astute in recent weeks in a settled role
6 Tshibola: Tight in the midfield at times, never got much freedom, but strong and again always on top of things
5 Franks: Outshone later on by Compton, but put some graft in – a lot of his work going unnoticed;
8 SMITH: Application and workrate aplenty as he chased, closed down and played the centre-halves very well throughout
6 Bird: One chance, one goal – not a bad record to start with. Lively, without getting much direct service to play with.
Subs: Featherstone (for Woods 63), J Jones (for Franks 77). Not used: Maxted (gk), Walker, Harewood, D Jones, Morgan.
AFC WIMBLEDON (4-4-2): Shea 6; Fuller 7, Winfield 6, Oshilaja 4, Kennedy 5; Potter 4 (Azeez 71), Bulman 6, Reeves 6, Rigg 4 (Moore 71); Akinfenwe 4, Tanner 5 (Connolly 84). Subs (not used): McDonnell, Smith, Phillips, Beere.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Connor Smith – on only his second start, he gave a bright and lively performance, not seen since Luke James came to the fore.
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