Story of the day: Hartlepool United 3-1 Chesterfield – Pools start bank holiday weekend with a bang to go 16 unbeaten
and live on Freeview channel 276
Goals from Rhys Oates, a Josef Yarney own goal and another from Luke Armstrong in the first half were enough to seal the three points for Pools despite former defender Fraser Kerr pulling a goal back for Chesterfield in the second half.
The win keeps Pools third in the table going into the bank holiday Monday match at Bromley (3pm kick-off).
Refresh the page and scroll down through our live blog to see how events unfolded...
A message from the Football Clubs Editor
Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Hartlepool United coverage 365 days a year.
This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.
Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor
FULL-TIME: Hartlepool United 3 (Oates 4, Yarney og 39, Armstong 43) Chesterfield 1 (Kerr 62)
Key Events
- Pools XI: Ravas; Ferguson, Odusina, Liddle, Cass, Sterry; Featherstone, Shelton, Holohan; Oates, Armstrong
- Pools subs: Donaldson, Francis-Angol, White, Elliott, Saunders
- Pools bookings:
- Chesterfield XI: G.Smith; Carline, Yarney, Kerr, Maguire, Weston, Taylor, Clarke, Tyson, Rowe, Oyeleke
- Chesterfield subs: Rowley, Mandeville, Whelan, M.Smith, Mitchell
- Chesterfield bookings:
- Referee: Darren Williams
Prediction for tonight? Dominic Scurr gives his thoughts
It’s a big game for both sides this evening, huge in fact. Both will be desperate to avoid defeat and boast solid defensive records, particularly since the turn of the year.
Pools and Chesterfield both like to play football so we could end up seeing a fairly open game you just hope they don’t end up cancelling each other out, leading to a cagey affair.
I think a low-scoring game is on the cards (mind you I thought that at Wealdstone last time out!) - having seen the line-ups, I’ll go for a 1-1 draw.
Social media boycott
No Twitter updates today but we’ll be bringing you minute-by-minute updates of today’s match in our live blog along with reaction from our Hartlepool Mail reporter Dominic Scurr.
The National League table following earlier results.
Wins for Torquay United, Sutton and Torquay see Pools drop to fourth prior to kick-off.
It will be the first time Pools have dropped out of the top four in over two and a half months should they fail to beat Chesterfield this evening.
Chesterfield line-up confirmed
Chesterfield XI: G.Smith; Carline, Yarney, Kerr, Maguire, Weston, Taylor, Clarke, Tyson , Rowe, Oyeleke
Chesterfield subs: Rowley, Mandeville, Whelan, M.Smith, Mitchell
Pools team verdict
Pools boss Dave Challinor made one change from the side that beat Wealdstone 7-2 a fortnight ago as Luke Armstrong returned to the starting line-up in place of the recalled Richie Bennett, who returned to his parent club Stockport County earlier this week.
Apart from that, Pools are unchanged though the bench looks considerably different with new signings Zaine Francis-Angol and Harvey Saunders coming in. Midfielder Tom White has also been recalled to the matchday squad after missing out at Wealdstone while Danny Elliott and Ryan Donaldson keep their place on the bench.
Luke Molyneux and Luke Williams are notable absentees for Pools as they look to continue their title charge live on BT Sport this evening.
Overall, no real surprises with the Pools team as Ryan Johnson remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Pools XI: Ravas; Ferguson, Odusina, Liddle, Cass, Sterry; Featherstone, Shelton, Holohan; Oates, Armstrong
Pools subs: Donaldson, Francis-Angol, White, Elliott, Saunders
Pools starting line-up confirmed
Pools XI: Ravas; Ferguson, Odusina, Liddle, Cass, Sterry; Featherstone, Shelton, Holohan; Oates, Armstrong
Pools subs: Donaldson, Francis-Angol, White, Elliott, Saunders
