8 points clear at the top!
30 March 2007
Hartlepool 3 Chester 0
Pools had a comfortable win to extend their unbeaten run to 23 games. They now lead the league by eight points.
Polls were never really stretched and were in command for most of the game after taking an early lead. Richie Barker gave the home team the lead on three minutes, his looping header going into the corner of the net after a free-kick from Richie Humphreys.
However, although they were always second best, Chester battled and could have leveled on a couple of occasions but missed some good chances. Sean Hessey fired wide from 20 yards and Paul Linwood had a header cleared off the home line, before home keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos saved well from Dean Bennett and Chris Holroyd.
Pools made the visitors pay the penalty by doubling their lead on 26 minutes, Barker heading on a cross from the right for the unmarked Andy Monkhouse to hit his shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Early in the second half the game was made safe for Pools when Chester went down to ten men and conceded a third. After 70 minutes Chester skipper Bolland was sent off for a second yellow card after having his name put in the refs book just eight minutes earlier. From the free-kick Pools grabbed their third, Michael Nelson heading on for defensive partner Ben Clark to head powerfully into the roof of the net from close-range.
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