GORDON Watson can rest his broken leg today safe in the knowledge that Hartlepool United are still on top of Division Three.

Goals from Adam Boyd - in as Watson's replacement - and fellow front man Eifion Williams ensured Pool followed up Saturday's win over Darlington with another three points to keep their three-point lead intact.

And in the process Williams took Watson's title as leading scorer. His sixth of the season - blasted in from ten yards to put Pool in front - took him one ahead of the striker who broke a bone in his leg last Saturday in the derby against Darlington, and faces up to two months out of action.

But as Watson settled down to follow the action from his Southampton home, Pool took their time to settle and allowed Lincoln's physical outlook to knock them off their stride, but after 30 minutes they took command and then played the visitors off the park.

Darlington's defeat at York and Rochdale's late show against Cambridge haven't done Pool any favours, because it keeps York on Chris Turner's tails, but dropped points for Rushden were welcomed.

If Pool needed a reality check after the high of Saturday's win over the Quakers, it came last night with just 55 seconds on the clock when former Pool striker Adie Mike met Stuart Bimson's corner and headed in from six yards.

Lincoln were playing a quick-tempo game, denying Pool any time or space to pass the ball around as they closed down their top-of-the-table opponents at every opportunity.

But only a great save from Alan Marriott denied Eifion Williams his sixth of the season on 12 minutes.

Graeme Lee nodded down a high cross and Williams, two goals in the derby win, turned and shot on target from eight yards only for Marriott to get down low to block.

Pool started to match Lincoln's workrate and as a result started to cause problems, not perhaps as stern as those posed against Darlington, but enough for defender Richard Logan to almost nod past his own keeper before Boyd headed over from eight yards.

Boyd then curled in a low effort after cutting in from the right which bent inches wide of Marriott's far post.

Pool had a penalty shout rejected on 41 minutes when Tommy Widdrington was bundled over in the area as Pool turned up the pressure.

When the home team played football and kept the ball down they were dominating; when they stooped to Lincoln's long-ball level, it was a different matter.

Penalty denial number two came soon after the break, Darrell Clarke's shot appearing to strike the hand of big defender Ben Futcher.

Widdrington rifled in a 20-yard drive which whistled beyond the goal before Williams' hesitation while running at the City defence cost Pool a great chance.

The game exploded on 56 minutes when Scott Willis' kick at Humphreys sparked a 20-man brawl as players raced in from all angles to join in. Willis found himself in the book for his part, and immediately after was substituted.

Pool were level on 62 minutes - and Boyd finished the chance in style. Widdrington kept on the pressure with a chip in the area and when it spooned off the head of Futcher, Boyd flicked the ball up and with his back to goal flicked it nonchantly over his head into the roof of the net.

Minutes later striker Williams saw his diving header somehow blocked on the line by Marriott.

But Pool were was soon in front. Humphreys was felled in the area and the ball fell into the path of Williams who lashed home his sixth of the season.

Result: Hartlepool United 2 Lincoln City 1.

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