Exeter 1 Hartlepool 2

Last updated : 09 November 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Two goals in three minutes were enough to give table-topping Hartlepool victory against battling Exeter.

The Grecians gave a home debut to striker Colin Alcide and he could have made an instant impression with the first chance of the game in the 17th minute.

He ran on to Andy Roscoe's fine pass but, with only the goalkeeper to beat, he scuffed his shot past the post.

The visitors hardly looked like a side sitting clear at the top of the table.

It took 28 minutes before they had a meaningful attempt on goal, when Paul Smith headed Darrell Clarke's cross into the arms of goalkeeper Kevin Miller.

Martin Thomas glanced Scott Hiley's fine cross past the post for Exeter but the Grecians had Miller to thank for keeping the scores level.

The Cornishman stretched out a hand to superbly block Mark Tinkler's powerful strike from the edge of the box as the visitors began to look dangerous.

Exeter took the lead four minutes after the restart. Thomas fed Alcide on the left and the striker cut the ball back to Reinier Moor who skipped past a defender and curled the ball into the net from 15 yards.

Roscoe then drilled a shot past the post as Exeter began to dominate.

Hartlepool attempted to respond and Marcus Richardson should have done better when he fired over the bar from eight yards.

The visitors drew level in the 63rd minute when Tinkler headed home Smith's corner.

Three minutes later Richardson struck the winner when he fired home from close range after City failed to clear another Smith corner.

Exeter chased the game but there was no way back.

Hartlepool's caretaker manager Colin West said: "After we equalised I thought that there was only one team that was going to win it, and that's the way it proved."