Pool rally gets no reward

Exeter City 3 Hartlepool United 1

HARTLEPOOL must start to pick up points away from home if their Victoria Ground revival is not to go to waste.

They are still rooted to the foot of the Fourth Division, but Saturday's performance against leaders Exeter showed that they are capable of climbing away-if only they could make away pressure count. For the first hour, Pool were up against it on a heavy pitch, but in the middle of the second half, they staged a fighting revival which deserved more reward. The big difference in the se- cond half was the introduction of Brian Honour as sub for his first League game in 10 months. He proved he has now re- covered from a serious knee injury, and with him operating wide on the left, and Paul Dalton on the right, Pool created enough chances to spring shock. But home keeper Kevin Miller made a couple of important saves, and Pool could not cash in.

Coach Bryan Robson, though, said: "Having two wingers of the calibre of Brian Honour and Paul Dalton is great option for us, something we will obviously be considering during the week."

The league's leading scorer Darren Rowbotham struck four minutes from time as Pool dominated the late stages of the game, clinching Exeter's victory. He had given them a 2-0 lead in 50 minutes after lan Bennyworth had scored in his own goal in the middle of the first half. When Joe Allon made it 2-1 with a goal he and Pool deserved in 70 minutes, the stage was set for a shock-if only the visitors could match their spoirit with better finishing.

EXETER: Miller, Hiley, Benjamin. McNichol (Cooper 62 min), Taylor.Whitehead, Rowbotham, Bailey
McDermott, Neville, Elkins.
Sub not used: Batty

HARTLEPOOL Priestley, Olsson (Honour 46 min), McKinnon, Tinkler. Smith, Bennyworth (Lamb 81 min), Allon, Tupling, Baker, Nobbs, Dalton.