Hartlepool United 1-0 Eastleigh: Pools gain ground in race for National League play-offs by beating struggling Spitfires

With Southend United losing, Pools moved to within four points of the Shrimpers as Nicky Featherstone's side gave their fading hopes of sneaking into the top seven a shot in the arm.

Pools dominated the first half and went ahead after half an hour when Jamie Miley's initial effort was parried into the path of Matty Daly, who made no mistake from close range.

Although the second period was more even, Pools were generally in control despite a late rally from the Spitfires, who created a few half-chances but never really looked like mounting a comeback.

Pools, who named an unchanged side from last weekend's much-needed win over bottom club Truro City, started brightly and almost fashioned the first opening inside two minutes when Daly came close to unleashing Alex Reid with an incisive through ball.

The home side continued to press and Daly flashed a ball across the face of goal after 10 minutes after combining well with Tyrese Sinclair, who was looking typically lively in the opening stages despite Eastleigh's robust attempts to stifle his threat from the left flank.

Sinclair was causing the visitors problems and the York City loanee, so impressive since signing for Pools in January, lashed a speculative effort over the bar from long range in the 13th minute.

Despite their early pressure, the home side had failed to create a clear-cut chance and Eastleigh threatened for the first time after 16 minutes through Aaron Blair, who fluffed his lines having done superbly to pluck a looping ball out of the sky after Maxim Kouogun was caught out of position.

Eastleigh goalkeeper Nick Townsend was called into action for the first time in the 21st minute, saving Sinclair's effort at his near post after the winger had beaten his man on the edge of the box.

Sinclair came close again three minutes later when his strike was deflected narrowly wide after good combination play between Daly and the industrious Charlie Caton.

The home side were beginning to turn the screw and the experienced Townsend did well to hold Caton's low drive following Sinclair's incisive pass after 25 minutes.

Pools took a well-deserved lead after half an hour when the influential Daly scored from close range, his fourth goal of the season. The home side unlocked Eastleigh's defence with a flowing mood involving Alex Reid, Miley and Caton before Townsend parried a ball across the face straight into the path of the waiting Daly, who ended a run of seven games without scoring.

With the visitors rocking, things almost got even better for Pools in the 33rd minute when Jay Benn flashed a half-volley wide after Eastleigh failed to deal with a ball into their box.

Pools were playing with purpose, intent and freedom and much of the home side's best moves were coming through Sinclair, who fired wide from distance after 34 minutes as Eastleigh struggled to get a foothold in the game.

It took the struggling Spitfires until four minutes before half time to test Nick Hayes, although the towering Temitope Eweka's header was comfortable for the Pools goalkeeper.

There was time for one more effort from the excellent Sinclair in first half added time. This time, however, the wideman might have been better off sliding the ball into the path of Reid rather than lashing a speculative strike well over Townsend's crossbar.

The visitors tried to inject some impetus into their performance after the restart but Inih Effiong was wasteful from a promising position in the 49th minute, blazing a free-kick into the stands.

While the Spitfires were showing one or two signs of improvement, Pools were still a threat at the other end and Sinclair, who had been a near constant thorn in Eastleigh's side, headed over from Miley's free-kick after 53 minutes.

Pools thought they should have had a penalty in the 59th minute when Daly's effort cannonned into an Eastleigh defender. The Town End in particular felt referee Paul Marsden should have pointed to the spot for handball, but the man in the middle showed no interest despite some vociferous appeals.

The hosts came within a whisker of adding a second after 62 minutes when the impressive Miley's cross was brilliantly cleared by Richard Brindley, who denied Caton what would have been a certain goal at the back post with a superb defensive intervention.

Pools were pressing for a second and Sinclair's curling free-kick sailed over the bar with 26 minutes of normal time remaining, his seventh effort off target of a profligate afternoon.

Eastleigh were struggling to get into the game in a meaningful sense and Hayes was largely a spectator other than when substitute Kieron Evans directed a low strike straight into his midriff in the 72nd minute.

The home side continued to look the likelier to score a second and Townsend kept his side in it with some brave goalkeeping after 76 minutes, taking the ball off Caton's toes following excellent work from Reid. Moments later, Featherstone made his first two changes of the afternoon, introducing Brad Walker, making his first appearance since October 1, and Vadaine Oliver in place of Caton and Miley.

The visitors were showing one or two signs they were beginning to grow into the game and Evans, who had looked lively since coming on, had Hayes scrambling with a low drive 11 minutes from time.

Pools were starting to look a bit nervous - after all, Eastleigh had scored six stoppage time goals in their last nine games - and Kouogun was almost punished for some uncharacteristically slack defending late on.

Reid forced a sharp save from Townsend in the 84th minute while at the other end, Hunter did well to head Evans' goalbound effort clear of danger.

The hosts survived one dangerous moment as the clock ticked down when Hayes failed to deal with a deep ball into his box but recovered well enough to thwart Eweka in a crowded penalty area.

Pools travel to relegation-threatened Morecambe on Wednesday night as Featherstone's side look to keep the pressure on in the race for the top seven.

Pools (4-2-3-1): Hayes; Benn, Kouogun, Hunter, John; Sheron (c), Miley (sub, Oliver, 77); Caton (sub, Walker, 78), Daly, Sinclair (sub, Okike, 87); Reid (sub, Folarin, 86)

Attendance: 4,176 (45 away)