Hartlepool United made it three wins out of three with a well-earned 1-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers. An own-goal at the end of the first half was enough to get the result, with Pools now in the best-possible form ahead of Saturday's game against Sutton.
Tranmere started the match strongly, with Morris and Hawkes seeing plenty of the ball in wide areas. The Pools defence held firm, though, with Timi Odusina having another good game alongside Neill Byrne.
Clear-cut chances were hard to come by, with Pools limited to long-range opportunities through Sterry and Molyneux, before Tranmere hit the side-netting with a mis-hit cross. Just as the first half looked to be ending goalless, the breakthrough came. Pools won a free-kick on the right-wing, and Ferguson's wicked delivery clipped Rovers skipper Peter Clarke on the way through and nestled in the bottom left corner.
The second half saw Tranmere desperate to get an equaliser, and the best chance before the hour mark fell their way. Hemmings found space in the box after a knock-down, but Killip made himself big and denied the forward.
A big chance fell Pools way 20 minutes later after Molyneux was set away. The winger cut inside and was blocked by MacDonald as he pulled the trigger. Bogle then had a go, bursting through to go one on one with Doohan, but his shot was high and wide.
Tranmere continued to push forwards, but resolute defending from Pools saw them keep another clean sheet and claim all three points at home.
Pools XI: Killip; Sterry, Byrne, Odusina, Ferguson; Morris, Featherstone, Molyneux (Liddle 89), Crawford, Grey (White 57); Bogle
Unused Subs: Bilokapic, Ogle, Shelton, Fletcher, Carver