Match ends, Bristol Rovers 4, Hartlepool United 1.
Bristol RoversBristol Rovers4HartlepoolHartlepool United1
Matt Taylor scored a hat-trick as Bristol Rovers eased past struggling Hartlepool to go sixth in League Two.
The striker volleyed home Billy Bodin's lay-off before Rory Gaffney capitalised on poor defending to double their lead.
Rovers put the result beyond doubt before the break when Taylor powerfully headed home Lee Brown's centre.
Billy Paynter pulled one back for Pools but Taylor tapped in to complete his treble, with visiting midfielder Brad Walker striking the post and crossbar.
Line-ups
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Mildenhall
- 15J Clarke
- 4Lockyer
- 5McChrystalBooked at 72mins
- 3Brown
- 23Bodin
- 14Lines
- 7MansellSubstituted forO Clarkeat 83'minutes
- 16Lawrence
- 10TaylorSubstituted forEasterat 75'minutes
- 30GaffneySubstituted forHarrisonat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Leadbitter
- 6Parkes
- 8O Clarke
- 9Harrison
- 17Easter
- 21Montaño
- 25Puddy
Hartlepool
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Carson
- 2Magnay
- 26Jackson
- 5Harrison
- 3CarrollBooked at 53mins
- 7ThomasSubstituted forFenwickat 59'minutes
- 8WalkerBooked at 82mins
- 16FeatherstoneBooked at 27minsSubstituted forHawkinsat 66'minutes
- 30Gray
- 10PaynterSubstituted forOatesat 75'minutes
- 33James
Substitutes
- 15Oates
- 17Fenwick
- 18Hawkins
- 19Richards
- 28Laurent
- 40Caig
- Referee:
- Lee Swabey
- Attendance:
- 6,634
Match Stats
Home TeamBristol RoversAway TeamHartlepool
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away4
- Corners
- Home7
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 4, Hartlepool United 1.
Post update
Jermaine Easter (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Carl Magnay (Hartlepool United).
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Foul by Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers).
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Luke James (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Hand ball by Ellis Harrison (Bristol Rovers).
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Attempt saved. Luke James (Hartlepool United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Corner, Hartlepool United. Conceded by James Clarke.
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Chris Lines (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Carl Magnay (Hartlepool United).
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Ollie Clarke replaces Lee Mansell.
Booking
Brad Walker (Hartlepool United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Attempt saved. Brad Walker (Hartlepool United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Hand ball by James Clarke (Bristol Rovers).
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Attempt blocked. Billy Bodin (Bristol Rovers) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Jake Carroll.
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Chris Lines (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Brad Walker (Hartlepool United).
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Ellis Harrison replaces Rory Gaffney because of an injury.
