Hartlepool United claimed three points in League Two after an eventually-comfortable comeback win over Barrow AFC. A brace from Luke Molyneux and Omar Bogle’s first goal for the club cancelled out John Rooney’s opener in the first half.
Pools started the game brightly, with Bogle, Molyneux, and Grey all looking to test the Barrow backline early on. Good work down the right saw Sterry win a free-kick in a good area but nothing came of the resulting set-piece. Barrow then had chances of their own, but Ferguson made a good block from Wakeling after a chance was blazed over the bar minutes earlier. Joe Grey clipped the crossbar after a quickfire move, but it was the visitors who scored first.
In the 17th minute, John Rooney picked up the ball just inside the Pools half, took a touch, and lobbed Ben Killip from the best part of 40 yards. They then had a chance for a second, but Brough couldn’t arrange his feet in time after the back-post corner got all the way through to him. Killip made a big save from Amadi-Holloway before Pools struck back.
Joe White found Molyneux on the edge of the box, and the former Sunderland man cut inside and fired beyond Farman to get Pools on level terms. Not long later, Pools were ahead. It was Molyneux again, this time collecting the ball from Jamie Sterry, cutting inside, and firing high into the net from 25 yards.
The quickfire goals put Pools firmly in the lead, and the result was basically sewn up before half-time as Omar Bogle got in on the action. After intricate play in the box, the frontman collected the ball and slid a left-footed finish into the far corner.
The second half was tame compared to the first, with few chances for either side until Luke James’ introduction for the visitors. The former Poolie got a half-volley away on the edge of the box that Killip somehow got down to turn onto the crossbar. Brown had a late chance at the back-post, but his shanked shot didn’t trouble the Pools goal.
Pools XI: Killip; Sterry, Odusina, Byrne, Ferguson; White (Shelton 82), Morris, Crawford; Molyneux, Bogle (Cullen 78), Grey
Unused Subs: Bilokapic, Liddle, Ogle, Holohan, Fletcher
Booked: Byrne (50)