Hartlepool United vs Rochdale. Sky Bet League One.
Suit Direct Stadium, Hartlepool UnitedAttendance4,663.
Saturday 7 January 2012 18:36, UK
Hartlepool ended their run of nine straight defeats at Victoria Park with a 2-0 win over Rochdale on Saturday afternoon.
Neither side offered much in the first-half, but Pools did create the rare openings, with Andy Monkhouse heading over a Luke James corner and Jack Baldwin curling a shot into the arms of keeper Peter Kurucz. Monkhouse also had a header cleared off the line by Stephen Darby, while all Dale mustered was a Nicky Adams shot from 25-yards which went straight at Scott Flinders. Pools introduced James Brown after 68 minutes and six minutes later he was celebrating when he got ahead of Antony Sweeney to head home from close range. And teenage talent James scored a wonder goal in the 80th minute, volleying high into the net from 25 yards. Pools player-coach Ritchie Humphreys was given a late run out for his 500th appearance for the club, as new boss Neale Cooper earned a first win since his re-appointment.
