It was dramatic, it was dominant, it was nerve-shredding, but we have our first league win of the season! Josh Umerah and Wes McDonald were on the scoresheet for Pools, but it took the full squad to grind out the points against a dogged Doncaster side.
Pools dominated the opening exchanges, with Umerah, Hamilton, and Oduor stretching the Rovers backline and getting shots away. A couple of chances for former Poolie Luke Molyneux were as close as the visitors got to a goal in the opening 45 minutes, but it was Keith Curle's side that took the lead.
Six minutes before the interval, a passing move between Menayese and Sylla found Oduor out wide. The Kenyan stepped inside and his left-footed cross was turned home by Josh Umerah to make it three goals in two games.
In the second half, Pools picked up where they left off. Mitchell's goal was under siege from the off, with Cooke firing wide and Umerah battling with the defenders in an effort to find a second goal.
However, it was Doncaster that struck next. A corner into the box fell to Bobby Faulkner, and the defender finished smartly beyond Killip for parity. The visitors almost had a second not long later, but Biggins could only slide Clayton's cross-field ball wide.
As time ticked away, it looked as if Pools would be frustrated by the visitors. A Ferguson free-kick drifted behind, Ndjoli mis-controlled when he could have got in, and Sylla saw a shot deflected behind.
Then, it happened… Ferguson's pass found McDonald on the edge of the box and the attacker skipped past a defender before burying it at the near post. The Suit Direct erupted, McDonald was ecstatic, and FINALLY we have lift off!
Now, we wait to welcome Carlisle United to Hartlepool on Saturday.
Pools XI: Killip; Murray, Menayese, Lacey, Ferguson; Oduor (Hastie 62), Crawford, Sylla (Paterson 89), Cooke (Shelton 70); Umerah (Ndjoli 70), Hamilton (McDonald 62)
Unused Subs: Letheren, Grey