Match report: Hartlepool United 3-1 Halifax Town – Dave Challinor's side up to third following third straight win at Victoria Park

Goals from Ryan Johnson, Rhys Oates and Mason Bloomfield were enough to see Pools claim another three points at home. Billy Chadwick scored for the visitors, who had Nyal Bell sent off for a second yellow card in the second half.

Pools went into the match sitting fifth in the National League table and eyeing a third consecutive Victoria Park victory following Tuesday night’s 4-0 win at home to Stockport County.

Unsurprisingly, Challinor opted to name an unchanged starting line-up and bench from that match with the hope of it yielding another three points.

And the signs of a repeat were promising as Pools netted an early goal with their first real chance of the game – much like they did on Tuesday night.

After seven minutes, Johnson rose highest to nod in Nicky Featherstone’s corner to the back post to make it 1-0 with his fourth goal of the season.

But unlike Tuesday night, Pools’ lead lasted just six minutes as Chadwick found himself in space down the right, bringing the ball into the box and hammering it past Ben Killip at his near post to draw Halifax level.

David Ferguson then had to be withdrawn after clattering with the post in an attempt to get the ball. Joe Bunney came on as his replacement after 28-minutes for his first proper run out at Victoria Park.

The Shaymen grew in confidence after grabbing the equaliser as Nyal Bell came close after turning Timi Odusina on the edge of the box only to see his effort whistle past the bottom right post.

Tyler Magloire had Pools only other shot on target in the first half as both sides struggled to capitalise on the frantic start to the game as they went in at 1-1.

Boxing Day matches are usually occasions for big crowds and exciting derby matches. It’s sod’s law that Pools’ second Boxing Day match at home since 2007 would be played behind closed doors.

The scenes were starkly different this Saturday afternoon with the only soundtrack in the ground being shouts from players and coaches, the hum of the wind at the back of the Neale Cooper stand and the ambient noise from the town centre in the distance.

But after the restart, Pools started to get some momentum and it didn’t take them long to go back in front.

After netting his first of the season on Tuesday night, Oates was at it again as he picked up Mark Shelton’s pass, found space inside the box and shot across goal to find the bottom left corner to make it 2-1 to the hosts.

Minutes later, Luke Summerfield came close to finding a fine equaliser for Halifax as his curling effort from distance sailed just wide of the top left corner.

But for the fourth time in three matches, Pools' opponents had a player sent off as Bell was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Timi Odusina.

From there, Pools were able to see the game out comfortably as substitute Bloomfield sealed the game late on with a drilled strike into the bottom right corner to make it 3-1.

Pools XI: (3-5-2) Killip; Johnson, Odusina, Magloire; Ferguson (Bunney 28), Featherstone, Shelton, Holohan, Sterry; Oates (Bloomfield 83), Armstrong

Pools substitutes: Donaldson, Bloomfield, Grey, Crawford, Bunney

Pools bookings: none

Halifax XI: (4-2-3-1) Johnson, Williams, Senior, Bradbury, Maher, Summerfield, Woods, Green, Nepomuceno (Earing 78), Chadwick, Bell

Halifax substitutes: Davison-Hale, Earing, Danns, Tear, Crane

Halifax bookings: Bell (53,69)

Halifax sendings off: Bell (69)

Referee: Andrew Kitching

Man of the match: Rhys Oates

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