TYLER POUNCES TO FIRE POOLS

By Paul Fraser

HARTLEPOOL U 2

Burey 23, Featherstone 57 (pen)

WALSALL 0

Att: 4,677 Rating: ★★★☆☆ Ref: Declan Bourne 7/10

IN CONTROL: Nicky Featherstone scores Pools’ second goal from the penalty spot and, Inset, they celebrate Tyler Burey’s opener

PICTURE: MI News & Sport

DAVE Challinor admitted he was delighted to see Hartlepool secure their second home win in a row on their return to the EFL, but knows there is still room for improvement.

After a slow start against Walsall, Tyler Burey scored for the second weekend in a row to put Pools in front in the 23rd minute and captain Nicky Featherstone sealed the outcome with a second-half penalty and if you’re thinking of placing a bet on League Two check out this bet365 bonus code.

But Challinor is taking steps to ensure his players keep their feet on the ground.

“I’m pleased with the second-half performance. First half we were comfortable, we actually made it more difficult than it needed to be. Second half we were terrific. We should have won by more,” he said.

“We started the half intense, had a few chances and didn’t take those but deservedly got the second.

“I’m not sure if it was a penalty, impossible to say, but the ref made the decision and we will gratefully take it.

“There are plenty of positives but we can still improve on what we did first half.”

It was Pools who took advantage of the main firsthalf chance.

Millwall loan man Burey, who had not scored a goal professionally until a week earlier, brilliantly turned and beat defender Ash Taylor before side-footing inside the top right corner from a relatively tight angle.

That arrived in the 23rd minute and Hartlepool stayed in front, despite goalkeeper Ben Killip having to make a flying save in his top right from the head of Conor he is about, at the right end Wilkinson.

In the 57th minute Featherstone, a former Walsall player, made sure of a second home win since returning to the EFL by converting a penalty awarded when Gavan Holohan’s shot hit the arm of Taylor.

David Ferguson, Will Goodwin and Reagan Ogle all went close for the home side but they had already done enough to beat Matthew Taylor’s side.

Added Challinor: “On Tyler, there is more to come from him. His goal was what he is about, at the right end of the pitch, celebrating with the fans as well.

“What we have to do with him, is get that message across where he doesn’t have to rely on what he did for that goal to get him to stand out in a game.”

While Hartlepool have won two from their three games since returning to League Two, Walsall have now collected just a point from the first four matches.

Saddlers boss Taylor said: “We didn’t deserve anything from the game, we didn’t com-pete or earn the right to win a game of football.

“We didn’t win enough second balls, we weren’t competitive on the pitch and I am quite surprised, to be brutally honest. I can go with mistakes, I can look at those, but what I can’t go with is not competing on a pitch.”

HARTLEPOOL: Killip 6, Byrne 7, Liddle 7, Francis-Angol 7, Sterry 7, Shelton 7, Featherstone 8, Holohan 7, Ferguson 7, Burey 8 (Molyneux 72, 6), Goodwin 6 (Ogle 88). Subs not used: Odusina, Cullen, Smith, Daly, Mitchell.

WALSALL: Rushworth 7, White 5, Taylor 5 (Monthe 63, 6), Menayese 7, Ward 6, Phillips 5, Perry 6 (Osadebe 55, 6), Kinsella 6, Kiernan 6, Earing 6, Wilkinson 6. Subs not used: Rose, Bates, Leak, Willis, Mills.