Report: Good Show But No Points For Hartlepool

Hartlepool put in a good performance against promotion chasing Huddersfield but left pointless

A great goal from striker Alan Lee was the difference between the two sides as Huddersfield beat Hartlepool at the Galpharm Stadium.

Neale Cooper dropped James Brown for the game, Jack Baldwin coming into the team in his place.

It was the home side looking the livelier at the start of the game with the dangerous Jordan Rhodes forcing a great save out of Scott Flinders.

Flinders was again in action when a Sean Morrison cross was met by Anthony Kay, the keeper again forced into a good save, this time tipping the ball out for a corner before blocking Danny Ward's effort soon after.

Pools' best move came when a good ball from Ritchie Humphreys sent Antony Sweeney clear on goal, the midfielder whipped a cross across the six-yard box but was unable to find James Poole in the centre.

At the other end, Sam Collins, Peter Hartley and Paul Murray were in fine form against the Huddersfield attack, with Hartley taking a heavy blow from Lee Novak, the forward lucky to escape punishment for the tackle.

An injury forced James Poole off at the break but replacement James Brown slotted into the team well, although it was Antony Sweeney who looked most like scoring, forcing a couple of good saves from Alex Smithies at the start of the second half.

Despite a lot of possession, the hosts were unable to capitalise for much of the half, until a great strike by Alan Lee nudged them ahead with 15 minutes remaining. Joey Gudjonsson's neat pass found substitute Alan Lee just inside the area and the striker sent a great strike past Flinders to give the Terriers the lead.

Cooper introduced Adam Boyd and Colin Nish soon after the goal but it was Andy Monkhouse who came closest to the equaliser when his fantastic long range effort smashed off the post.

FT: Huddersfield 1 Hartlepool 0 Hartlepool: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Hartley, Horwood, Baldwin, Murray (Nish 79), Sweeney, Poole (Brown 46), Humphreys (Boyd 79), Monkhouse
Subs not used: Rafferty, Haslam

Huddersfield Town: Smithies, Woods, McCombe, Morrison, Hunt, Ward (Johnson 85), Kay, Gudjonsson, Arfield (Roberts 61), Novak (Lee 61), Rhodes
Subs not used: Bennett, Naysmith, Johnson

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