Yeovil Town v Hartlepool United

After a fruitful Christmas and New Year, Yeovil Town would have been looking to continue their recent run of good form against Hartlepool United. Martin Scott's side were making their first visit to Huish Park and will not make a longer away trip all season.

The reverse fixture saw Yeovil return south with all three points, marking their first win of the season. Before kick off two places and two points separated the sides in the league table, with both teams climbing the table after their last fixture.

Steve Thompson kept faith with the starting line up that won at Doncaster, with Chris Cohen potentially playing his last game in a green and white shirt. The departure of Efe Sodje to Southend saw Luke Oliver take a place on the bench in a game that held great importance for both outfits.

Yeovil came out looking to attack and immediately created problems amongst the Hartlepool defence. After ten minutes the referee waved away vociferous appeals for a penalty after David Poole was upended in the box.

Neat footwork and a probing run proved too much for the visitors, but Paul Melin felt there was insufficient contact to award a penalty after Poole went to ground.

With 18 minutes on the clock Matt Harrold carved an opportunity that he was unlucky not to do better with. After shrugging off the presence of Michael Barron the former Brentford youngster was unable to beat his next man on the edge of the penalty area and Hartlepool hurriedly cleared.

Moments later Lee Johnson appeared to be felled 25 yards from goal as he was about to unleash a shot. However, doing little to endear himself upon the home fans, Melin failed to stop play.

The Glovers continued to push forward and 26 minutes into the half deservedly took the lead. Superb link up play between Kevin Amankwaah and Paul Terry on the right unlocked the Hartlepool defence allowing Phil Jevons a sight of goal.

The Liverpudlian did brilliantly to wrap his left boot around a ball that looked like it was never going to drop, placing his effort exquisitely to the right of a diving Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.

As the half wore on Hartlepool tried to get back into the game, gaining more possession of the ball. However, the Yeovil rearguard stood strong and looked to nullify any danger. The Glovers were still threatening down the right, with Andy Lindegaard picking up from where the injured Amankwaah left off.

As in their last home game, Yeovil Town went in at the break with a one goal advantage. Hartlepool were slowly making a mark on the game but were finding it hard to stop a Yeovil side on good form. The Glovers' passing was slick and efficient and proving a handful for a Hartlepool side that looked organised but lacked bite.

Half Time: Yeovil Town 1 Hartlepool United 0

Hartlepool returned for the second half looking a much improved side, dominating exchanges after the restart. Despite this, they still struggled to trouble Steve Collis in the Yeovil goal with the resilience of the Yeovil defence ensuring his afternoon was kept quiet.

After 53 minutes the visitors engineered their first shot of the game. Michael Maidens held the ball well on the edge of the box, shielding it from a series of tackles. His shot, however, left a lot to be desired, with the ball sailing into the Copse Road End.

Four minutes later Gavin Strachan attempted to find the target from a free kick, 30 yards from goal. The shot was accurate but lacked power and was gratefully held by Collis after clipping Terry.

This came shortly before Hartlepool's best opportunity of the game and a golden chance to draw level. A lofted free kick from the left found Michael Nelson unmarked and yards from goal. Unfortunately for the visitors Nelson could only head embarrassingly wide.

Yeovil Town replied in fantastic fashion, immediately doubling their lead. A strong run from David Poole saw the winger nip behind the Hartlepool defence. His ball across the face of goal was met by Jevons who steadied himself before doubling his tally for the game.

Twenty-two minutes into the half the visitors came close to salvaging a glimmer of hope. Substitute James Walker crossed from the byline, only for the ball to trickle across the face of goal with nobody on hand to provide the crucial finishing touch.

Yeovil's second goal sent the Glovers into overdrive, with Hartlepool unable to cope with the hosts' rampant passing and surges forward. Jevons was proving a menace in attack alongside Harrold who once again worked tirelessly.

With 15 minutes left of the tie Yeovil could easily have stretched their lead to three goals. Harrold timed his forward run perfectly, putting himself one-on-one with the United 'keeper. His shot rattled the post, before Jevons had the follow-up cleared by the defender on the line.

Neither 'keeper was to be called upon again and Yeovil ran out convincing two-nil winners. Hartlepool were certainly not the worst team to travel to Huish Park this season but were powerless against a home team that are beginning to hit the top of their game and making possession count.

The Glovers looked assured at the back, and dealt easily with whatever United threw at them. The midfield worked exceptionally hard, and Jevons and Harrold look better together with every game.

Martin Scott will be disappointed with how quiet his side were and their lack of creativity. Steve Thompson, on the other hand, has to be delighted with a confident performance from his team as they climb into the top half of League One.

Full Time: Yeovil Town 2 Hartlepool United 0

Report by Chris Sweet