Reyes Cleary fired Hartlepool United to back-to-back wins for only the second time this season with a 1-0 victory at Halifax Town.
The on-loan West Brom attacker got the winner five minutes before half-time at the Shay where he thundered a right-foot shot home from the edge of the box.
Pools were forced to defend strongly in the second half but emerged with the three points to move up to 12th in the table.
Head coach Anthony Limbrick was forced to make one change to the team which swept aside Boston seven days ago.
Anthony Mancini had failed to train all week with a groin injury so was absent at Halifax which signalled a return to the starting XI for Joe Grey.
The first half on a very difficult playing surface and blustery conditions belonged, almost entirely, to the men in sky blue.
Pools had four corners in the opening 10 minutes and also the contest’s first opportunity on nine minutes.
Gary Madine was denied by an amazing reaction save by Toby Savin after an attempted Halifax clearance landed at the feet of the striker.
Having adapted the better to the conditions Pools produced some good play down each flank through Cleary on the left and Louis Stephenson on the right.
Pools were left wondering how they were not ahead on the half-hour when Stephenson put in a tremendous cross which Grey could not get on the end of.
But five minutes before the break the goal they had been threatening came thanks to a blistering Cleary finish.
Mani Dieseruvwe had been pulled back when trying to get through, allowing Jamie Miley to play in another free-kick into the home area.
Tom Parkes laid the ball back and the West Brom loanee made room for himself at the edge of the box before unleashing a right-foot shot which rocketed into the net.
Pools negotiated the opening stages of the second half successfully though there was a brief scare just before the hour when half of the Shay screamed for a penalty when the ball came into the visitors box. But referee James Westgate was having none of it.
Halifax soon had their first sight of Adam Smith’s goal but Florent Hoti prodded his shot just wide of the goalie’s left stick.
There was an amazing escape on 66 minutes for Pools. Just as sub Luca Thomas looked set to equalise, a grounded Parkes incredibly headed it clear with the home crowd baying for a handball and penalty.
Again, referee Westgate was unmoved.
Halifax though had the momentum but while they applied the pressure, they could not find the net with a Hoti overhead kick clearing the bar before sub Angelo Cappello fired wide of Smith’s left post from the edge of the box.
Limbrick emptied the bench in the later stages, bringing on Nicky Featherstone, Luke Charman, Sam Folarin and Jack Hunter as Pools saw the game out.
Pools: Smith, Sass-Davies, Parkes, Ferguson, Stephenson, Miley (Hunter 85), Sheron, Cleary (Folarin 85), Grey (Featherstone 64), Madine (Charman 75), Dieseruvwe
Subs (not used): Ombang, Waterfall, Campbell
