Popov the match-winner as Hartlepool United grind out three points against Woking

Chris Popov got the only goal of the game as Hartlepool United returned to winning ways with a hard-earned home win against Woking.

Pools made a bright start to the contest and created the first chance of the game on 12 minutes when captain Jack Hunter flicked a header narrowly wide after he had met a Jamie Miley free-kick at the near post. Despite their visitors threat on the break, it was Pools that had the most eye-catching opportunities with Chris Popov seeing a goalbound shot blocked before Will Harris was unable to control a fine cross from Jack Nolan when he was left unmarked around ten yards from goal.

There was an injury blow for Pools just minutes later when goalkeeper Max Merrick suffered an injury and he was replaced by substitute stopper Nathan Fisher as the former Middlesbrough youngster came on for his home league debut. Pools had two further chances with half-time approaching as they continued to look like the more likely of the two sides to find an opener as Popov sent a deflected effort wide before the former Morecambe man found Harris with a cross but the striker’s header was off target.

The breakthrough finally arrived 11 minutes after the restart when Popov made amends for a poor miss just moments earlier by grabbing his first goal for the club. It wasn’t pretty in its execution - but the vast majority of those inside Victoria Park cared little as the forward forced the ball inside the near post after neat approach play from Liam Gibson, Ilunga and Harris.

That league looked vulnerable as the second-half wore and it remained in-tact by the narrowest of margins when some inspired defender from Neo Eccleston allowed the wing-back to block a John Marquis shot from the goal-line after the experienced forward had beaten Fisher with quarter of an hour remaining.

There was one last push from the visitors as Pools keeper Fisher produced a fine save to keep out Marquis in injury-time before the latter wasted a golden chance with the final kick of the game when he almost kicked fresh air six yards out.

That was enough to ensure Lee Clark’s side returned to winning ways and took some reward for a hardworking display that had perhaps earned them a little bit of luck in the closing stages.

Pools: Merrick (Fisher), Hunter, McNally, Ilunga, Miley, Harris (Hugill), Eccleston, Sheron, Nolan, Popov (Bondo), Gibson (Deeming) Subs: Penman, Benn, Thornton

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Asare, Okoli, Ogie, Syla, Ward, Akinola, Dulson (Sohna), Forster-Caskey (O’Brien), Turner, Marquis Subs: Ross, Odusina, Harris, Putman, Akinola

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