North-East Sport
Pools end on a high
5:22pm Saturday 28th April 2012
Hartlepool United 2 Leyton Orient 1
HARTLEPOOL United ended their Victoria Park campaign with a much-needed and welcome victory over Orient.
Ryan Noble, the striker on loan from Sunderland, was the match-winner, although Pools had a couple of late scares to worry about.
Pools keeper Scott Flinders made a stunning stop to deny Kevin Lisbie on 17 minutes, five minutes before the opening goal.
Andy Monkhouse headed down in the area and top scorer Antony Sweeney lashed in his ninth of the season from close range.
But the scores were level on 34 minutes. Pools lost possession in midfield and Jamal Campbell-Ryce broke away to clip a deft finish across Flinders.
Flinders again saved well from Lisbie, when the striker was clean through.
But Pools went ahead when Noble glanced home Evan Horwood’s deep cross from eight yards after a Jack Baldwin free-kick was passed wide.
The Os had two strong penalty shouts rejected by referee Steve Rushton, the first of which looked a cast-iron spot kick for a handball offence against Andy Monkhouse.