IN December Hartlepool United travelled to Bristol Rovers for just 12 minutes of frozen action; last night they made the most of their second chance as they earned their fourth away win of the season.
Adam Boyd's first-half volley - his fourth goal in three games in seven days - secured the win as the play-offs sneak ever closer for Chris Turner's side.
Back on that cold winter day, Pool might have been a touch thankful to see the game halted so early as Rovers twice struck the bar in what little action there was.
Last night, there was only one team going to win this game. A dominant first-half was followed by some organised defending in the second period that brought with it Pool's first clean sheet in 11 attempts since winning by the same scoreline at Swansea on November 23. The win means Pool have suffered just two defeats in 14 League games, a sparkling run that has brought 31 points from a possible 42 since November 6.
For the first time since the home defeat to Oxford on October 27, Turner opted for a three-man back line as Micky Barron returned from suspension. In came Paul Stephenson for his first start since a defeat at Plymouth on November 3 and out went James Coppinger and Mark Robinson from Saturday's comfortable win over Torquay. Pool took a little time to adapt to their line-up and it took 18 minutes before the game saw any action - when it arrived it was well worth waiting for.
Graeme Lee's long free-kick from the halfway line was helped on by Mark Tinkler, and Boyd found the time and space to loop a volley high into the net from eight yards out.
A minute later and 19-year-old Boyd nearly repeated his weekend feat of scoring two goals in as many minutes. He met Ritchie Humphreys' right-wing corner with his head, but nodded over the bar from six yards.
Pool should have had a penalty on the half-hour when a Andy Thomson handball was missed by referee Phil Prosser, but spotted by the on-looking assistant referee. After the linesman informed the referee, a free-kick was awarded right on the edge of the penalty area and Smith's curling effort was tipped over by Scott Howie.
Without their main striker in 13-goal Nathan Ellington, Rovers were toothless, rarely troubling the Pool rearguard to the extent that Anthony Williams' biggest problem on the night was trying to keep warm.
Pool had to stand firm late on, but could have killed the game off when Boyd failed to get on the end of a Smith cross.
In the end they didn't need it and they go into the big derby games at York and Darlington with plenty of confidence.
Read more about Hartlepool here.
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