The game's talking point and decisive moment came early on. Pool goalkeeper Scott Flinders felled Chris Beardsley in the area after the striker skirted around him. Referee Mark Haywood, despite the presence of a covering defender, showed a red card and Scott Laird slotted away the spot kick past substitute keeper Andy Rafferty. The in-form visitors controlled the rest of the half with rookie stopper Rafferty making a fine low save from a curling Robin Shroot effort. He also denied Craig Reid a goal following a swift breakaway, but the 10 men then went onto create the better openings. From a Nolberto Solano corner, Peter Hartley headed into the side netting and then Nathan Luscombe nodded wide from 10 yards. The closest Pools came to a leveller was nine minutes from time. Adam Boyd laid the ball off for Andy Monkhouse and his lob clipped the crossbar with goalkeeper Chris Day beaten.
