His goal against Bradford City in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy may not have been anywhere near as spectacular as his strike at Home Park at the weekend, but it was just as important.

Pools don’t win many games at home; they can do it in the cup competitions, but not in the Football League.

And McSweeney and Pools hope his goal, a knock in from close range on 68 minutes, goes some way to getting their home form right with Peterborough United visiting Victoria Park at the weekend.

"I thought at times we played some really good, quick passing and incisive football," said boss Mick Wadsworth. "It was a bit like in the last round against Northampton when we were on top and were waiting for the goal to come.

"Everyone gave a good account of themselves out there tonight. It was a poacher’s goal if you like, in a gritty performance, a solid one. The back four did well I was pleased with them tonight."

And while the competition doesn’t have that many fans, Wadsworth is a convert.

"It’s a good competition, I like to pay respect to all competitions and I don’t like it when teams change around for the sake of it, you are duty bound to play the strongest team," he said.

"I felt in the changes we made, the players missing out have played a lot and they needed and were due a rest. It was a good chance for others to come in and do well and they did."

Wadsworth did make four changes to his starting line up from the weekend, taking Andy Monkhouse, Sam Collins, Paul Murray and Joe Gamble out of the starting XI.

One of the starters, Steve Haslam, has yet to score for Pools and he won’t go closer than he did on 18 minutes. A touch inside to create space, and the central midfielder’s goalbound shot was deflected wide.

Pools, with Evan Horwood on the left in particular, were getting a lot of the ball out wide. The left-back swung his share of crosses into the area, but there was no-one on the end of them.

The Bantams’ defending was big and organised, as they crowded their penalty area to nod away countless balls. Agricultural it may have been, but it was effective.

And they were quick on the counter attack, with Omar Daley cutting across Neil Austin to shoot low, with keeper Jake Kean stopping.

Lee Hendrie then tried his luck from 20 yards on the volley, but Kean wasn’t troubled.

Horwood and Adam Boyd linked up, and Denis Behan’s low drive was blocked by Jon McLaughlin in goal.

Fabian Yantorno was guilty in the first half of trying to play too many killer passes, but he went close himself on 48 minutes, going wide from 20 yards.

McSweeney then let fly with a left foot shot from similar distance, but pulled it wide.

The Bantams’ best chance was presented to them on the hour mark. Armann Bjornsson’s attempted back pass to Kean turned into a through ball for Luke Oliver.

The giant striker was put one on one with Kean, but the keeper was swiftly off his line to smother.

Eight minutes on and Pools took the lead, McSweeney hooking home after he and substitute Colin Larkin were both looking for the loose ball as it bounced around the six-yard area, with the former eventually converting.

Daley could have levelled on 85 minutes, volleying waywardly after collecting in the penalty area.

But Pools defended in numbers and, just like in the last round against Northampton, the difference between Leagues One and Two was evident.

 MATCHFACTS

Goals: McSweeney (68, 1-0)

Bookings: None

Referee: Jock Waugh (Sheffield) 7

Attendance: 1,728

Entertainment: ***

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3): Kean 7; Austin 6, Bjornsson 6, Hartley 7, Horwood 6; Yantorno 6 (Gamble 73), Liddle 7, Haslam 6; McSWEENEY 8, Boyd 6 (Monkhouse 65, 7), Behan 5 (Larkin 65, 5). Subs (not used): Devlin (gk), Mackay.

BRADFORD CITY (4-4-2): McLaughlin 6; Rehman 4, Williams 6, Gill 6, O'Brien 4; Adeyemi 6, Hendrie 6, Bullock 6, DALEY 7 (Flynn 62, 5); Oliver 6, Moult 5 (Speight 62, 5). Subs: Saxton (gk), Syers, Osborne.

MAN OF THE MATCH

LEON McSWEENEY - Two goals in two games for the midfielder