Hartlepool extend unbeaten run to four games following dominant win over Stockport County.
Dave Challinor’s Hartlepool side produced a dominant display at home to mid-table Stockport, with goals from Aidan Keena and Mark Shelton moving the pools up to 11th.
The home side dominated the opening exchanges, with strikes from fan favourite Gavan Holohan and striker Gime Toure forcing fine saves from Stockport goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe.
It took the hosts until the 31st minute to open the scoring, as forward Gime Toure converted Shelton’s low-driven cross from close range.
Toure again went close on his home debut, shooting just over following Gary Liddle’s headed flick on.
The second half followed a similar pattern to that of the first, with Dave Challinor’s men winning the midfield battle and controlling the game.
The hosts quickly made their early pressure count, when Mark Shelton converted from the edge of box, following some superb interplay down the left flank.
The visitors did grow into the game late on, but were unable to test goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney, with both Ash Palmer and substitute Nyal Bell failing to hit the the target.
The 2-0 defeat now leaves Stockport without a win in their last games, with the away side also failing to net in four of their last six games.
Victory for the pools now sees them move up to 11th, two points behind today’s opponents who sit 10th.
Dave Challinor:
‘‘I thought for the first 20 minutes of the second half we were really good, we won the game then and could have been out of sight. We said at half time we’ve been there before. We’ve got to manage the game with the intent to go and get the second one, and then the third.’’
Jim Gannon:
‘’I thought there were elements of our structure which showed we might contain them and make a few chances, which we did in the first half. That was always going to be very difficult to get back into it, once they scored the second goal.’’
20 years old
