Match ends, Hartlepool United 1, Northampton Town 0.
HartlepoolHartlepool United1NorthamptonNorthampton Town0
Marvin Morgan scored on his Hartlepool home debut to give League Two's bottom side a narrow victory over Northampton.
After a scrappy first half, the away side had the first real opening but Ricky Holmes was denied by keeper Scott Flinders when through on goal.
Soon after, Pools led when Morgan latched on to a loose Lee Collins back-pass and calmly slotted in.
Northampton pressed but Flinders made a marvellous save from Ryan Cresswell's header in the dying moments.
Jack Compton and Marlon Harewood had earlier come close to a second for the hosts, who have now won three straight home games.
Meanwhile, Chris Wilder's visitors had their five-game winning run in League Two ended at Victoria Park.
Northampton Town manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Northampton:
"We always knew it was going to be a test. We started the second half on the front foot and we've just gifted them a goal.
"We've lifted their staff, their supporters and their players by a mistake. We just needed to play it forward.
"For me it was always going to be decided by one goal and unfortunately for us we've not got that goal."
Line-ups
Hartlepool
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Flinders
- 21Duckworth
- 26Harrison
- 29Mirfin
- 2Austin
- 7FranksSubstituted forJonesat 78'minutes
- 14Woods
- 31Tshibola
- 11ComptonSubstituted forSmithat 89'minutes
- 9Harewood
- 30MorganSubstituted forFeatherstoneat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Holden
- 8Walker
- 13Maxted
- 16Featherstone
- 19Richards
- 20Jones
- 23Smith
Northampton
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Duke
- 2Moloney
- 36CresswellBooked at 78mins
- 6Collins
- 3HorwoodBooked at 45mins
- 19D'AthSubstituted forToneyat 57'minutes
- 21Taylor
- 25ByromBooked at 63mins
- 26HolmesSubstituted forTozerat 57'minutes
- 10O'TooleSubstituted forHackettat 75'minutes
- 9Richards
Substitutes
- 4Carter
- 7Bodin
- 11Hackett
- 12Tozer
- 13Snedker
- 24Toney
- 33Newey
- Referee:
- Nigel Miller
- Attendance:
- 2,856
Match Stats
Home TeamHartlepoolAway TeamNorthampton
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home6
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hartlepool United 1, Northampton Town 0.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Nicky Featherstone.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Scott Flinders.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Cresswell (Northampton Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Foul by Connor Smith (Hartlepool United).
Post update
Ryan Cresswell (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Neil Austin (Hartlepool United).
Post update
Brendon Moloney (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Hand ball by Marc Richards (Northampton Town).
Post update
Attempt saved. Marlon Harewood (Hartlepool United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Hartlepool United. Connor Smith replaces Jack Compton.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by David Mirfin.
Post update
Neil Austin (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ben Tozer (Northampton Town).
Post update
Attempt saved. Ivan Toney (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Marlon Harewood (Hartlepool United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jack Compton (Hartlepool United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Scott Harrison (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Jason Taylor (Northampton Town).
