Hartlepool 2 Port Vale 0

Last updated : 27 August 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Hartlepool ended Port Vale's 100 per cent start to the season as the second division new boys extended their own unbeaten run.

They scored in the opening and closing stages to stun a Vale side that might have expected something after they went to the top of the table on Saturday.

In fact, after a one-sided first half, Hartlepool should have been comfortably ahead so much did they outplay the visitors.

But they had to be satisfied with just one.

That arrived on two minutes when Richie Humphreys chipped into the area and Paul Robinson cashed in as the Vale defence slumbered, and blasted a low shot in from a narrow angle on the right.

Robinson hit the side netting minutes later, Marco Gabbiadini had a long-range shot tipped over the bar by Dean Delaney, Humphreys hit the underside of the Vale bar and Michael Nelson had a header cleared off the line by George Pilkington.

There were other close shaves too, as Pools totally dominated, yet seconds before half-time they were saved by a linesman's flag when a headed goal by Stephen McPhee was ruled out for offside.

Vale got better after the break, and McPhee had a header saved while both Billy Paynter and Adrian Littlejohn should have done better with good chances.

But still it was Hartlepool who had the clearer chances, and Delaney made good saves from a Mark Tinkler shot and a Chris Westwood header.

The game stayed tense until two minutes from the end when home substitute Steve Istead earned a penalty after running from halfway, brought down wide in the area by Pilkington.

Gabbiadini's first spot kick was saved by Delaney, but he was booked for moving and couldn't stop the second.

Hartlepool boss Neale Cooper said: "That was our best performance of the season. I felt we had more to give after our unbeaten start and this proved me right.

"We were great going forward and brilliant when we had to defend." Vale manager Brian Horton was angry with his players and the officials and said: "Hartlepool were winners today, but we were losers and we got what we deserved.

"The decisions weren't good, but that can't disguise a bad performance by the team."