Wrexham 1 Hartlepool United 2

Last updated : 13 April 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Hartlepool kept their promotion charge on track and put a big dent in Wrexham's hopes of reaching the play-offs. The killer goals came from set pieces after the home side had lost two key players through injury midway through the first half when Carlos Edwards and Jim Whitley limped off, apparently suffering from hamstring strains.

Darrell Clarke opened the scoring getting on the end of a flick-on from Eifion Williams after Hugh Robertson drove a right wing corner to the near post.

The second goal came just after the hour when Robertson drove a free-kick into the box from 20 yards, defenders cleared it off the line and Neil Danns was on hand to drive a low shot through a crowded box, beating unsighted goalkeeper Mike Ingham.

Paul Barrett raised Wrexham hopes late in the game when from one of the poorest chances he met Chris Llewellyn's cross and smashed it home from ten yards.

Wrexham started strongly with the lively Carlos Edwards setting up ex-Spurs striker Chris Armstrong for a header that clipped the near post and bounced clear. Matt Crowell fired a 25-yard drive over the crossbar and then set up a cross from which Armstrong saw a header saved by goalkeeper Jim Provett.

Robertson showed the sign of things to come with a 35-yard free-kick that Ingham did well to save. The home keeper tipped a header from Danns one-handed past the post with a breathtaking save and turned a Robertson free-kick away at full stretch.

Wrexham started strongly after the interval when Paul Edwards had a header tipped away by Provett and Armstrong might have done better when he was well placed, only to head straight at the keeper.

Hartlepool manager Neale Cooper said: "We've had two tough games over the Easter weekend and the lads have done well. We knew it would be tough here but it was a bonus when Carlos Edwards went off because he was causing major problems for us." He added: "We have won three games in a row at a vital time. We got a good goal in the second half when we were under the kosh and that made a big difference." A disappointed Wrexham manager Denis Smith said: "I think the best team lost. I am angry that we have not won, or at least got a draw."