FA Youth Cup: Hartlepool United 3 Chester 1, great win for Pools

Goal ace: Connor Simpson. Picture by FRANK REID

Goals by Joe Jackson, Daniel Boyle and National League squad member Connor Simpson carried Ian McGuckin’s teenage talents into the second round.

Pools went into the Victoria Park contest in confident mood following a good start to the season and buoyed by the bright attacking play in the fourth qualifying round under the Vic lights a fortnight ago when Halifax were beaten 2-1.

Pools went close on five minutes when Chester keeper Ben Gale made a diving save from Jackson’s low shot.

But he was poerless when Jackson found the net from close range in the 26th minute.

However, Chester soon muted the celebrations as they levelled five minutes later with Cain Noble heading in.

Josh Bayne fired over just before the break. and Pools had a scare just after the re-start when Iwan Murray’s free-kick into the box evaded everyone and bounced back off the bar. However, Pools regained the lead 15 minutes into the period thanks to Boyle’s super finish into Gales’s top corner.

And Pools sealed the deal 12 minutes from time when Jon Weirs was brought down in the box and Simpson found the net, just!

Sub Liam Pritchard went close late on to a fourth but Pools ended worthy winners.

Pools: Stephenson, Holliday, Cooper, Bayne, Owen, Miller, Jackson, Orrell, Simpson, Weirs, Boyle (Pritchard 81). Unused subs: Lawrence, Robinson, Murphy, Webster.