Pools record first win (From The Advertiser Series)

Hartlepool 2 Scunthorpe 0

5:11pm Saturday 1st September 2012 in Sport By Nick Loughlin

HARTLEPOOL United earned their first victory of the season as they beat Scunthorpe United 2-0 at Victoria Park.

Pools made hard work of clinching the points in a flat game. Defeat for the visitors was their fourth  of the season. 

Pools took the lead on 22 minutes. When James Poole crossed from the left, the ball flew across goal, but winger Jonathan Franks latched onto the ball at the far post to drill in from an angle.

Pools keeper Scott Flinders saved well from Josh Walker at the start of the second half and Evan Horwood had to block a Mark Duffy shot to prevent a leveller.

But the drab game sparked up on 78 minutes. Antony Sweeney’s angled and goalbound  header was saved on the by Walker, who was instantly sent-off.

 

Steve Howard took the penalty, but his low kick was saved by the diving Sam Slocombe.

Pools sealed an unconvincing and welcome three points on 86 minutes as substitute Luke James was picked out by Andy Monkhouse to volley in from 18 yards.