Northallerton 2

Pool 3

Pool made the long haul to Northallerton knowing that only a victory was going to keep their title aspirations intact.

Pool started with all guns blazing and took the lead after only five minutes, Joyce seizing on a defensive error and his telling cross was met by Jackson who headed home from six yards.

Ten minutes later Jackson got his second pouncing on a weak back pass to hit an unstoppable shot. Pool must have thought a rout was on the cards but Northallerton had other ideas.

For some inexplicable reason Pool allowed their opponents back into a game they had controlled effortlessly for 35 minutes. Five minutes before the break Healey and Studds went for the same ball, both missed and Northallerton's pacey centre-forward nipped in. His drive hit the post but fell for a team mate who could not miss.

Northallerton came out in the second-half sensing they could get something out of the game but could not break through Pool's resolute rearguard. In fact they began to leave large gaps at the back and Joyce squared to Jackson who drilled home his and Pool's third.

Northallerton pulled one back through a disputed penalty and a grandstand finish was on but the game finished as it started with Pool on top.

Pool came away with the points and with Burley and Beckwithshaw dropping points the gap has narrowed. With games in hand to overhaul both teams Pool's destiny is in their own hands.

Pool Reserves 3

Spa 1

Pool entertained Spa but the football did not live up to the billing. Both sides played disappointing football but Pool opened the scoring with a close range effort from Richard Shaw. Pool kept applying pressure and were rewarded with another Shaw goal.

The second-half continued in the same vein with both sides defending poorly. Spa scored a consolation goal. With 20 minutes to go Pool increased their lead through Chris Graham. Overall a disappointing performance by Pool but three points all the same. Match point went to Richard Shaw.