Fustrating

Dragons goalkeeper Mike Ingham kept Pool at bay until just before the break when Darrell Clarke stole in.

Wrexham lost Jim Whitley and Carlos Edwards to injury early in the match, so it was no surprise when Neil Danns was able to double Hartlepool's lead.

Paul Barrett pulled back a late goal for Wrexham, while striker Chris Armstrong went close with two efforts.

Wrexham were unlucky to be a goal down at the break, after Armstrong hit the post in the second minute with a diving header.

The former Spurs striker then had another header brilliantly saved by Jim Provett in the Hartlepool goal.

Opposite number Ingham - on loan from Sunderland - was also in fine stopping form and made one breathtaking save from Danns.

But Wrexham were forced to make two changes in as many minutes as their already injury-hit squad suffered further disruption.

Teenager Simon Spender, a second year scholar, came on from Trinidadian international Edwards and two minutes later Whitley's hamstring went and he was replaced by striker Lee Jones.

That forced Wrexham to re-organise and only another fine save by Ingham kept out Hugh Robertson's effort.

Danns struck on 63 minutes to double Hartlepool's lead after Darrell Clarke had given them the lead four minutes before the break.

Although Paul Barrett pulled one back for Wrexham it was a forlorn fight.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS