Hartlepool United 3-1 Truro City: Pools extend unbeaten run by inflicting more misery on travel sick Tinners

While Pools were not at the same level as last week's impressive win over Eastleigh, the home side had enough quality to run out as victors against a spirited Truro, who are managed by former boss John Askey, to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches.

In a game that was as much about how the two teams could cope with the dire weather as anything else, Pools went ahead in the 23rd minute when Adam Campbell continued his fine scoring form from distance.

The hosts looked in complete control for most of the first half but Truro rallied after the break and drew level after 58 minutes thanks to Aiden Marsh's header.

Interim manager Nicky Featherstone, who has overseen four wins and three draws from seven league games at the helm, introduced both Jermaine Francis and Pharrell Brown after seeing his side pegged back and the changes made a huge difference as Pools regained momentum before pulling clear of the plucky Tinners.

The home side regained their lead thanks to a thunderous strike by Jamie Miley after 74 minutes before striker Alex Reid put the result beyond doubt in added time as Pools inflicted a ninth defeat in 12 away games on Truro and closed the gap between themselves and the play-off places to just two points.

Pools, who named an unchanged side from last weekend's commanding win over Eastleigh, which interim manager Featherstone hailed as the best performance of his tenure, dominated large parts of the first half against a Truro side who arrived at Victoria Park with a miserable record on the road having lost eight and drawn two of their first 10 games away from home this term.

The hosts enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the opening exchanges without doing too much to hurt the Tinners in wet and gusty conditions, with Campbell dragging an effort wide after five minutes following Miley's pass.

Pools continued to press forward and the lively Matty Daly almost stole in after Reid's deft flick, only to be denied by some strong defending from the retreating Tom Harrison, who was making his first league start since returning from a loan spell with Chippenham.

Daly was causing the visitors, who had made the mammoth 436-mile trip from Cornwall up to the North East in wretched form, plenty of problems and went close to fashioning a chance after combining well with Campbell and Miley, but his ball across goal was behind the waiting Reid in the 10th minute.

Truro were showing plenty of spirit, character and determination but the visitors were lacking much quality as Pools started to turn the screw, with Reid's shot blocked by Truro skipper Connor Riley-Lowe after the frontman had linked up well with the influential Miley after 22 minutes.

Pools took the lead a minute later when Campbell scored his third goal in five games. The experienced attacker, who has been enjoying a remarkable resurgence since being brought back into the fold by Featherstone, continued his fine scoring form when his effort from the edge of the box deceived Dan Lavercombe, who got a hand to the ball but failed to keep it out. Whether or not Campbell intended to shoot or cross was unclear, although the diminutive forward has surely earned some luck after overcoming a torrid spell that saw him fall totally out of favour under former boss Simon Grayson.

The hosts seemed to lose some of their energy and impetus after opening the scoring and Pools skipper Tom Parkes had to be alert to turn the towering Tyler Harvey's flick wide after 26 minutes.

Campbell fired a free-kick well over from distance after 34 minutes while Truro fashioned their best chance of the first half in the 39th minute when Livingston loanee Shaun Donnellan headed straight at George Evans from a promising position following a flowing move down the right flank.

Pools spurned a golden chance to double their lead four minutes before the break when Daly beat the offside trap, latched onto Nathan Sheron's looping ball over the top and found himself bearing down on goal. With only Lavercombe to beat, however, the attacker never looked confident and he dragged a tame effort well wide.

The marauding Cameron John, who scored his second Pools goal in last week's win over Eastleigh, was once again looking threatening in forward areas and had a dangerous cross well cut out by Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, the brother of former Arsenal, Liverpool and England star Alex, after 42 minutes.

Truro went close a minute later when teenage forward Cole Deeming, on loan from Championship side West Brom, curled an effort wide from the edge of the box.

Pools thought they'd doubled their lead three minutes into the second period when John dinked an effort over the onrushing Lavercombe following Reid's deft ball forward, but the York loanee's strike was ruled out for offside.

The challenging conditions were beginning to take their toll with the weather having worsened during the half time break as Pools, who had been at their best whenever they'd been able to get the ball down and dominate possession, started to lose some momentum.

Truro, who improved significantly after the restart, drew level after 58 minutes when Marsh headed home his second goal of the season. Pools, who had defended their box well up until the equalising goal, allowed Marsh far too much space in the area as the 22-year-old got his head to Deeming's inch-perfect left-footed cross as the home side were pegged back.

Pools introduced Grenadian international Francis and Hull loanee Brown just after the hour in a bid to regain their lead but the visitors seemed buoyed by their equaliser and threatened with a series of purposeful counter-attacks.

Francis almost made an instant impact in the 65th minute when his ball across goal was deflected into the path of Reid, whose close range effort was well saved by the sprawling Lavercombe.

Home fans were beginning to show signs of frustration as Pools struggled to make inroads against a side supporters had expected them to beat, with Reid blazing over from distance with 21 minutes of normal time remaining.

Truro survived a spell of pressure moments later as Pools looked to bombard their box but Lavercombe did well to beat Maxim Kouogun to a looping ball.

The home side were beginning to get the upper hand and Lavercombe turned Brown's dipping effort onto the woodwork after 73 minutes before Francis flashed a strike across the face of goal as Pools started to threaten.

The hosts restored their lead in the 74th minute thanks to a superb strike from Miley. The influential Francis drove forward and pulled the ball back to Miley, who drilled a brilliant effort into the top corner that gave the despairing Lavercombe no choice, the young midfielder's first goal in 27 matches.

Pools were almost out of sight with five minutes remaining when Parkes turned a header across and Reid's initial effort rebounded off the crossbar before it appeared to dribble over the line amidst a crowd of bodies, but referee Zac Kennard-Kettle allowed play to continue.

Pools made sure of all three points in the third minute of four added when Francis, whose introduction had turned the game back in his side's favour, teed up Reid to score for the second time in three games as Pools gained more ground in the race for the play-offs.

Pools have a chance to continue their fine form next Saturday when they host strugglers Yeovil, albeit the Glovers ended a miserable recent run of results by beating Boston in new manager Billy Rowley's first game at the helm last time out.

Pools (4-2-3-1): Evans; Benn, Kouogun, Parkes (c), John; Sheron (sub, Francis, 62), Hunter; Campbell (sub, Topallaj, 83), Miley, Daly (sub, Brown, 62); Reid