A four-point week with two clean sheets, the Fleet made it a first win of the season to continue their good record against Hartlepool on Harry Watling’s first matchday as manager.

The new boss made three changes with Dominic Poleon, Jim Kellermann and Luke O’Neill out injured, to be replaced by Will Randall, Josh Wright and Wes Fonguck.

Seventh in the table at start of play and having won three of their last four away games, Hartlepool made the first chance as top scorer Joe Grey found himself one on one with Mark Cousins who saved neatly as the young Pool midfielder went through. 

As the Fleet settled, the chances began to flow at the other end. A delivery from Ben Chapman down the right arrived at the back post where Lewis Page was denied only by a late tackle as a Hartlepool defender steered it clear of the goalline. 

Franklin Domi was in the thick of the midfield battle as he was brought to ground at regular intervals, giving the Fleet no shortage of set-pieces to aim at Adam Smith’s goal. The closest came from Lewis Page’s effort that swung just wide of the mark.

The crucial goal arrived for the Fleet minutes five before half-time – the first goal in the opening 45 this season – and it came courtesy of Rakish Bingham. His quick feet and skill allowed him to get the better of Tom Parkes and he took his time with the shot that deflected off a defender to unsettle Smith and send the Fleet into the interval in front. 

Hartlepool enjoyed plenty of possession as the second-half began but they couldn’t do much with it. Cousins was called back into action, however, to deal with a dangerous shot coming in from the right. Dan Dodds had the next attempt but he wasted that as he directed it off target.

The game slowed in tempo as the hosts began to take some possession back and the Fleet started to attack with more purpose from the 70-minute mark. Chapman had several charges down the right flank with efforts that sliced through the penalty area but ran clear.

Substitute Greg Cundle came close to securing a second for the Fleet but his good run produced an effort from the edge of the area that was inches off target. At the other end, Mani Dieseruvwe should have rescued something for Hartlepool but again, the visitors’ finishing was off on the occasions they did get the better of the Fleet defence and the home side stood tall to take all three points.

EUFC: Cousins, Page, Dallison, Olagunju, Wright, Domi (John 84), Fonguck (Cundle 56), Edser, Chapman, Randall (Tanga 66), Bingham. Subs not used: Cordner, Phillips, Tanner, Berry
HTFC: Smith, Freeman (Dodds 17), Ferguson, Sass-Davies, Parkes, Hunter (Campbell 72), Mancini, Grey, Sheron (Featherstone 64), Mathurin (Charman 56), Dieseruvwe. Subs not used: Robinson, Young, Onariase.
Attendance: 1,424 (170 away)
Photos: © EUFC, Tom Harris/Ed Miller

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