Hartlepool United cruised to a comfortable victory over ten-man Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon after Jim Stannard was sent off midway through the first half.
The Fulham goalkeeper was dismissed by referee Mike James after conceding the penalty that gave the visitors the lead in the 25th minute. Stannard was shown a straight red card for upending Dean Emerson in the area after being played into serious trouble by a under-hit backpass from Mark Newson. With Don Mackay unable to name new loan signing Lee Harrison on the bench due to confusion between the FA and the Football League, Martin Pike had to replace Stannard in goal – and he had no chance of saving a calmly converted penalty from Andy Saville.
Fulham made light of their numerical disadvantage in the aftermath of that setback, with Mark Cooper hitting the frame of the goal with a free-kick. They got an equaliser a minute before half time when a mistake from Emerson allowed Julian Hails to ghost in behind the visiting defence and slot home.
But Pools made their hosts suffer in the second period. Nicky Southall had a superb game down the left flank and he restored the visitors’ lead within four minutes of the restart by shooting between Pike and the near post after driving infield having collected a pass from John MacPhail. Ten minutes later, Saville’s second of the afternoon settled the contest. He pinched possession from a dawdling Gavin Nebbeling and burst into the box before firing home from sixteen yards.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Nebbeling (Tierling 75), Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Newson, Onwere, Cooper (Morgan 65), McGlashan, Hails.
BOOKED: Morgan, Onwere.
SENT OFF: Stannard.
GOAL: Hails (44).
HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Jones; R. Cross, P. Cross (Gallacher 73), Gilchrist, MacPhail, Emerson, Johnrose, Olsen, Saville, Honour, Southall. Subs (not used): Peverell.
BOOKED: Gilchrist, Emerson.
GOALS: Saville (pen 25, 59), Southall (49).
REFEREE: Mike James (Horsham)
ATTENDANCE: 4,403.
