Hartlepool United returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Halifax Town. Mani Dieseruvwe was the difference as Pools’ number 20 got his 20th league goal of the season.
Kevin Phillips named three changes to his side following Tuesday's defeat at Gateshead with Louis Stephenson, Callum Cooke and Courtney Duffus entering the starting line-up.
The first real chance of the match came in the 23rd minute after good play from Joe Grey out wide found Cooke, and his through ball reached Dieseruvwe. The forward got his shot away, but Sam Johnson did well to make the save in the Halifax goal.
The rest of the half saw little in the way of chances, though Duffus saw a shot blocked after a free-kick into the box.
There was another big chance for Dieseruvwe early in the second period after being played through by Tom Crawford - he chipped over the keeper but Tyler Golden made a vital block off the line.
Meanwhile, after Nicky Featherstone was dispossessed up the pitch, Halifax sprung a counter-attack and Pete Jameson made a great save low down to deny Aaron Cosgrave.
Good pressing from Cooke saw Johnson rushed into a clearance on 72 minutes. Terrell Agyemang was onto it and was tripped in the box to give Pools a penalty. Dieseruvwe stepped up to beautifully dispatch his 20th league goal of the season - just the fourth player to reach the milestone in the last 50 years. Adam Boyd, Joe Allon and Paul Baker are the other names on the list.
The Shaymen had a huge chance at the other end - the ball fell to Rob Harker eight yards out, but his side-footed finish was well wide of the target.
In five minutes of added time, Halifax pushed for an equaliser. Luke Summerfield’s deep cross was too high for anyone to connect, while Luke Waterfall and Tom Parkes combined to clear other Shaymen forays into the area. Golden’s left-footed strike briefly had Jameson worried, but it only found the advertising boards behind the goal.
Despite a late free-kick and corner to Halifax, Pools withstood the pressure to claim all three points. They now turn their attention to Rochdale on Easter Monday.
Pools XI: Jameson, Stephenson, Waterfall, Parkes, Ferguson, Featherstone, Crawford, Grey, Cooke (Cooper 89), Duffus (Agyemang 61), Dieseruvwe
Subs (not used): Dixon, Onariase, Oduroh
Goals: Dieseruvwe (72)
