Eastleigh 0-2 Hartlepool United: dominant Pools extend unbeaten run to six matches

Pools, who won at the Silverlake Stadium for the first time ever, were good value for the three points and produced a dominant display to continue their fine recent form thanks to second half goals from Cameron John and Nathan Sheron.

Pools, who named an unchanged side from last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Wealdstone, saw plenty of the ball in the opening exchanges and fashioned the first chance of the game when the lively Matty Daly's effort squirmed across the face of goal after five minutes

Eastleigh grew into the contest and created their first opportunity in the ninth minute when Kieron Evans headed wide following a late forward run into the area.

Chances were few and far between in what was a pretty tepid opening half an hour, although Maxim Kouogun flashed an effort wide of the near post following a well-worked Adam Campbell corner after 26 minutes.

The visitors created the first clear-cut opening in the 35th minute when Campbell's lofted ball unleashed Reid one-on-one but the frontman, who ended a barren run of nine games without a goal against Wealdstone last week, was denied by the legs of experienced goalkeeper Nick Townsend.

Millwall loanee George Evans didn't have a shot to save in the first half, although Sam Pearson and then Harvey Saunders, who made two appearances for Pools during a fleeting loan spell in 2021, briefly threatened during a rare foray forward from the lacklustre hosts.

Pools, who dominated possession against an Eastleigh side who showed them far too much respect in the first half, started the turn the screw and Daly, who was taking up plenty of promising positions, forced a fine save from former Newport man Townsend, who got down well to his left to keep out his low effort following excellent work from the impressive Benn after 38 minutes.

Benn was beginning to cause Eastleigh all sorts of problems and created another chance a minute later when his cross found Reid, who struck the underside of the bar with an acrobatic effort as Pools pressed for an opener before the break. Reid came close to getting on the end of the rebound, but Townsend did well to react quickly and snuff out the opportunity.

While Pools might have been a bit passive in the opening half an hour, the visitors played some really good football in the final 15 minutes of a dominant first half display and Benn flashed a ball over the bar following excellent work between Jack Hunter, enjoying an outstanding game in the engine room, and Campbell.

Eastleigh's best chance of the first half came three minutes into added time when the visitors, otherwise almost faultless defensively, switched off from a deep corner and the towering Aaron Pierre headed over.

Although Eastleigh made a more purposeful beginning to the second half, Pools took the lead in the 49th minute when John scored for the first time since signing on loan from York in the summer. A free-flowing Pools move found Reid, who turned and slid an inch-perfect pass through to the marauding John and the defender lashed a venomous effort off the inside of the post and in to fire the visitors in front.

Pools doubled their lead four minutes later when Sheron fired a left-footed effort into the bottom corner from distance. Eastleigh sat off the industrious midfielder, not renowned for his goalscoring exploits, and Sheron made them pay with a superb strike that gave Townsend no chance, his first goal in 15 matches.

Eastleigh pressed for a route back into the contest and should really have pulled one back on the hour when the towering Paul McCallum latched onto a loose ball and found himself bearing down on goal, but Evans was equal to his effort and Pools survived.

The visitors went close to adding a third in the 62nd minute when Reid once again found John in a promising position and his well-struck effort forced a sharp save from the sprawling Townsend.

McCallum, who has only scored once all season, was looking his side's biggest threat up front and went within a whisker of pulling one back with 22 minutes of normal time remaining when he headed over from close range.

Pools should have been out of sight late on when Jamie Miley did well to cut out substitute Archie Harris' ball before driving forward and picking out John, who was reluctant to shoot first time on his weaker right foot and allowed Eastleigh to scurry back to snuff out the danger.

The visitors survived a late scare when Evans made a fine low save at his near post following a venomous strike from Saunders, but Pools held on to keep pace in the race for the National League play-off places ahead of the visit of John Askey's Truro, who haven't won any of their 10 away games so far this term, next weekend.

Pools (4-2-3-1): Evans; Benn, Kouogun, Parkes (c), John; Hunter (sub, Ferguson, 84), Sheron; Campbell (sub, Francis, 70), Miley, Daly (sub, Brown, 70); Reid (sub, Johnson, 84)