Hartlepool United-Halifax Town: Major blow for Pools

Hartlepool United suffered a major blow with the loss of leading scorer Jonathan Franks for the must-win National League clash with Halifax Town.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Nov 2017, 18:34 BST
Updated 12th Dec 2017, 03:02 BST
Jonathan Franks (right) was ruled out and replaced by Rhys Oates (left)Jonathan Franks (right) was ruled out and replaced by Rhys Oates (left)
Jonathan Franks (right) was ruled out and replaced by Rhys Oates (left)

The six-goal striker was not risked with a muscle injury, second-top scorer Rhys Oates coming in up top.

Boss Craig Harrison made three non-enforced changes to his starting XI at Victoria Park.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Full-backs Kenton Richardson and Blair Adams both lost their places, with Liam Donnelly switching from centre-half to right-back and Nicky Deverdics moving from midfield to left-back.

Louis Laing was restored to the centre of defence alongside Scott Harrison.

Conor Newton and Michael Woods were brought into the midfield, summer signing Newton making his first start since the 2-0 defeat to Fylde in August.

Halifax included Josh Macdonald, the son of 1991 Pools promotion winner, Garry, while Connor Oliver, briefly a loanee from Sunderland when Colin Cooper was boss at the Vic, was named in midfield for the Shaymen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Pools: Loach, Donnelly, Harrison, Laing, Deverdics, Featherstone, Newton, Woods, Rodney, Cassidy, Oates.Subs: Ledger, George, Hawkins, Munns, Adeloye

Halifax: Johnson, Clackstone, Garner, Hotte, Wilde, Batty, Middleton, McManus, MacDonald, Oliver, DentonSubs: Moyo, Nicholson, Morgan, Waring, Clarke

Referee: J Johnson

Related topics:Hartlepool UnitedNational LeagueRhys Oates