Antony Sweeney made it three wins in as many games in caretaker charge of Pools as a Nicke Kabamba first-half brace sealed victory over Barnet.
It was a good performance from Pools who soaked up early
pressure to assert their dominance on the game and were worthy winners this
afternoon.While it was Barnet who started strongly, Pools took the
advantage where it counted with an opening goal on seven minutes thanks to Nicke
Kabamba.Great work and through ball from Luke James set the striker
running into the box and Kabambae showed a real calm head as he picked his spot
and finished past former Poolie Scott Loach to make it 1-0.The visitors looked lively on the attack and did enjoy their
fair share of possession, with Sweeney's side happy to let them do the running
for spells, then using the counter to break forward.Josh Walker picked up a loose ball in midfield to burst throughinto the box but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.
Pools looked a threat going forward, with James full of
running, Kabamba causing problems and Peter Kioso offering support down the
right.And just before the half-hour mark, Pools hit home again; a lovely
passing move involved Featherstone, Holohan and Donaldson saw the latter fouled
on the edge of the area. But with the referee playing the advantage, the ball
was picked up by Kabamba inside the area and curled a shot past Loach and into
the net to make it 2-0.It could have been three for Pools shortly after as Fraser Kerr got forward to crack a fierce strike at goal from 30 yards but while his effort beat the keeper, he was denied by the woodwork as he shot bounced up off the crossbar.
The visitors had a half-chance late into the 45 as Mauro Vilhete
met a cross in from the left to send a header at goal but he sent his chance
just wide and Pools took the two-goal lead into the break.It was Vilhete who had the first real chance of the second
half as he picked up the ball to the left of the box to send a volleyed effort
at goal but again, he sent it wide of target.Kabamba broke into the box on the hour mark with only Loach
to beat for his hat-trick but as Pools fans know only-too-well, the keeper is
capable of some strong saves and he pulled one out to deny the striker and keep
it at 2-0.Barnet were reduced to ten men on 64 minutes as Jack Taylor
picked up his second yellow card of the game – for a foul on Peter Kioso – and he
was given his marching orders.Ben Killip made a decent save on 74 minutes as Cheye
Alexander sent a low drive through the box following a corner as the visitors
looked for a route back into the game.Pools looked to be enjoying themselves in the second half, with
some nice passing football going forward and strong defending at the other end.
Gus Mafuta powered a low drive at goal that was blocked in
the box by Dan Sweeney, while Michael Raynes was denied a headed goal by some strong
defending from the visitors.Gime Toure, on as a second-half sub, looked to add his name
to the scoresheet as he jinked in from the left to fire an effort towards the
far post but he was denied by Loach, with another good save.And the Barnet stopper was in action again just after as he got down to parry a Mafuta thunder-strike which came at him through a crowded box.
It was a well-deserved and comfortable win for Sweeney's side who make it three unbeaten - with as many clean sheets - in the last three games.
Full Time: Pools 2 Barnet 0
Attendance: 3089 (65 Barnet)
Pools: Killip, Kioso, Kerr, Raynes, Kitching, Featherstone, Mafuta, Holohan (Kennedy 81), Donaldson (Hawkes 90), James (Toure 77), Kabmaba.
Subs Not Used: Cunningham, Muir.
Barnet: Loach, Alexander, Santos (Dunne 57), J Taylor, H Taylor, Boucaud (Johnson 70), Vilhete, Elito (Mason-Clark 52), Walker, Tutonda, Sweeney.
Subs Not Used: Matrevics, Akinola .