Halifax Town 0-1 Hartlepool United: Pools continue resurgence under Nicky Featherstone with determined win over Shaymen

Pools might not have been perfect, but the visitors produced a gritty, battling and determined display to win on the road for the first time since September and close the gap between themselves and the play-off places to three points.

Halifax spurned a gilt-edged chance on the hour when George Evans, impressive once again, saved Will Harris' tame penalty before Adam Campbell scored for the second time in a week as Pools edged towards the top seven.

Pools, who made three changes as Alex Reid, who was back in the starting XI for the first time since September after recovering from a hamstring injury, Jamie Miley and skipper Tom Parkes replaced Danny Johnson, Jermaine Francis and Besart Topallaj, looked bright in the opening exchanges and the returning Reid had an effort blocked after two minutes following good work from Miley.

The visitors continued to press forward and Campbell, fresh from scoring his first goal of the season during Tuesday night's underwhelming 1-1 draw with Morecambe, forced a sharp low save from veteran goalkeeper Sam Johnson in the third minute.

Halifax responded and went close after eight minutes following a fluid counter-attack, with Harris bursting through the Pools back line before being denied by Evans; in truth, the former Spennymoor frontman, who was part of the Moors side that reached the final of the FA Trophy last season, should have scored from close range. The hosts spurned another opportunity from the rebound as the marauding Will Hugill fired over on the volley.

The home side fashioned another chance in the 16th minute when a long ball undid Pools and found leading-scorer Josh Hmami, who was denied a seventh goal of a productive campaign by a smart save from Evans at his near post.

Interim boss Featherstone was incandescent in the dugout after 23 minutes when Reid, rather harshly, was adjudged to have fouled the retreating Angelo Cappello when he looked set to race through on goal.

Halifax fashioned a half-chance two minutes later when Owen Devonport, who was causing the Pools back line a few problems, fired an acrobatic effort over the crossbar after a rare mistake from Cameron John. At the other end, Pools threatened on the break after Nathan Sheron won the ball back but Jay Benn's cross sailed straight out of play from a promising position.

Having started in end-to-end fashion, the first half rather fizzled out as the hosts saw plenty of the ball without really threatening while Pools worked hard to make themselves difficult to break down but struggled to offer much of a threat in the final third. Reid, who had for the most part been asked to plough a lone furrow, saw an effort from the edge of the box deflected over the bar on the stroke of half time but there was nothing to separate the two teams as a rather unremarkable opening period ended goalless.

The home side went close three minutes into the second half when Cappello, among Halifax's biggest threats down the left side, found space down the flank and picked out Devonport in the box, who glanced an effort wide of the post from close range; had Cappello's ball been a yard lower, then the frontman would surely have scored his second goal of the season.

The hosts fashioned a good chance in the 50th minute when Will Hugill picked out Owen Bray, who did well to steal in-behind John but never looked confident with his effort, but the marauding midfielder dragged his strike wide of the far post.

Pools survived a nervous moment a quarter of an hour into the second half as Halifax missed from the penalty spot for the third time this season. Referee George Laflin pointed to the spot after Nathan Sheron was adjudged to have fouled Cappello - it might have been slightly soft, although the midfielder challenged from the wrong side and failed to make contact from the ball - inside the area. Harris stepped up, looking for his fifth goal of the campaign, but his penalty lacked any real conviction and the sprawling Evans saved with his legs.

Pools were dealt a blow moments later when Parkes, who had been having a good game in the heart of defence, was forced off. The skipper was replaced by Topallaj, with John moving across from left-back to centre-half.

The Shaymen were beginning to apply significant pressure and Devonport headed wide at the near post 20 minutes from time as Halifax, who had the home fans at their back, attempted to turn the screw.

Pools, against the run of play, took the lead in the 72nd minute when Campbell, who had endured such a torrid start to the season following a difficult first campaign back in the North East last term, scored for the second time in as many games. The recently-introduced Topallaj found space towards the byline and had the presence of mind to pull the ball back to Campbell, who made no mistake with his first-time finish from close range to fire the hosts in front.

Halifax went close late on when substitute Dylan Crowe's cross flashed across the face of goal late on while fourth official Michael Crusham signalled for eight minutes of added time, much to the dismay of the more than 400 travelling Pools fans.

Defender Shaun Hobson headed over, while Jack Hunter skewed a clearance onto his own crossbar, but Pools, who had looked far more spirited and cohesive than they had in recent weeks, dug their heels in as they tried to hang on.

The visitors rode their luck at times in the closing stages and Evans was forced into a save from the lively Hmami at the death as Pools held on to make it eight points from the last 12 available under interim boss Featherstone.

Pools (4-3-2-1): Evans; Benn, Kouogun, Parkes (c) (sub, Topallaj, 63), John; Miley, Hunter, Sheron; Daly, Campbell (sub, Francis, 85); Reid.