Hartley goal sinks Rovers

Peter Hartley scored his first goal for Hartlepool as Tranmere were consigned to a 1-0 defeat.

Harltepool take second home win of the season

Peter Hartley's first goal for Hartlepool secured his hometown club's second home victory of the season with a 1-0 defeat of Tranmere. The defender's 43rd-minute header from eight yards out proved enough to see off a hard-working Rovers side in what was a poor spectacle. From a Ritchie Jones corner, visiting midfielder Paul McLaren mistakenly headed on and the unmarked left-back was on hand to finish. It meant a second loss in three games for Tranmere's caretaker boss Les Parry, but proved enough to lift Chris Turner's side into 10th place in League One. Rovers started brightly and hit the woodwork after three minutes through a Gareth Edds header from a deep McLaren corner, that coming after Terry Gornell was denied by keeper Scott Flinders. Pools could have doubled their lead in the 49th minute when James Brown's cross evaded Adam Boyd in front of goal. But Rovers went closest to a leveller when Ian Goodison's scrambled effort was knocked off the line by Neil Austin. Rovers were reduced to 10 men for the last couple of minutes when substitute Charlie Barnett was red carded for a lunge on Austin.