Match ends, Hartlepool United 2, Exeter City 1.
HartlepoolHartlepool United2ExeterExeter City1
Hartlepool secured their Football League status following a nervy victory over Exeter at Victoria Park which ended the Grecians' play-off hopes.
Striker Scott Fenwick finished well after Jordan Moore-Taylor slipped to give the hosts an early lead.
But the visitors equalised immediately as Graham Cummins was left unmarked to head in Liam Sercombe's corner.
Aaron Tshibola's pass was finished by Jordan Hugill before half-time as Tranmere and Cheltenham were relegated.
Pools had been 10 points adrift of safety in January, having been rooted to the bottom on the table since losing 2-1 away to Cambridge at the end of October.
However, four wins in a row in March saw them climb to safety under Ronnie Moore, who took charge in the middle of December.
Fenwick could have added a third late on, only to see his goal-bound strike cleared off the line.
Exeter's loss coupled with Plymouth's victory over Tranmere means that Paul Tisdale's side will spend another season in League Two.
Line-ups
Hartlepool
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Flinders
- 2Austin
- 26Harrison
- 4Bates
- 20Jones
- 7Franks
- 31Tshibola
- 16Featherstone
- 11ComptonSubstituted forMillerat 80'minutes
- 24HugillBooked at 8minsSubstituted forHarewoodat 68'minutes
- 17Fenwick
Substitutes
- 8Walker
- 9Harewood
- 10Miller
- 13Maxted
- 15Nelson-Addy
- 21Duckworth
- 27Jones
Exeter
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 21Hamon
- 11Davies
- 4Bennett
- 15Moore-Taylor
- 14McAllister
- 8OakleyBooked at 40mins
- 7Sercombe
- 33HarleyBooked at 44mins
- 10KeohaneSubstituted forNicholsat 68'minutes
- 31CumminsSubstituted forMorrisonat 64'minutes
- 23NichollsSubstituted forWheelerat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Butterfield
- 20Nichols
- 22Wheeler
- 26Tillson
- 27Jay
- 30Pym
- 34Morrison
- Referee:
- Carl Boyeson
- Attendance:
- 4,994
Match Stats
Home TeamHartlepoolAway TeamExeter
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away3
- Corners
- Home9
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away12
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Hartlepool United 2, Exeter City 1.
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Scott Fenwick (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jamie McAllister (Exeter City).
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Jonathan Franks (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Liam Sercombe (Exeter City).
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Attempt saved. Clinton Morrison (Exeter City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Neil Austin.
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Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Dan Jones.
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Tommy Miller (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Clinton Morrison (Exeter City).
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Scott Fenwick (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Jamie McAllister (Exeter City).
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Substitution
Substitution, Hartlepool United. Tommy Miller replaces Jack Compton.
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Foul by Clinton Morrison (Exeter City).
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Aaron Tshibola (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt blocked. Scott Fenwick (Hartlepool United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
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Corner, Hartlepool United. Conceded by Jordan Moore-Taylor.
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Corner, Hartlepool United. Conceded by Ryan Harley.
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Substitution
Substitution, Hartlepool United. Marlon Harewood replaces Jordan Hugill.