Pool AFC 3, Mount St Mary's 2

THIS was a must win match for Pool if they are to climb out of the relegation area. The early exchanges saw them on the back foot and it was against the run of play when they opened the scoring, Paul Wilkinson breaking down the left then firing home confidently.

This settled Pool's nerves and they got into some kind of rhythm. St Mary's were no pushover and it took all of 'keeper Ed Neale's experience to keep them out during the sustained first-half pressure, which eventually bore fruit, giving them a deserved equaliser.

Pool continued to show the fighting spirit which has given them improved results recently, regaining the lead when a superb move up the left resulted in Shaun Joyce putting in an inch perfect cross for Chris Graham to head home unchallenged.

Pool went further ahead early in the second-half. Another move down the left saw Wilkinson in the right place to score Pool's third and his second goal. Pool were on top and the points seemed safe but when St Mary's pulled a second goal back it set up a nerve-jangling last 20 minutes which saw Pool hold on gamely, indeed they could easily have added to their lead.

Pool's Match Point went to Chris Graham