Ormerod raises Blackpool hopes

Brett Ormerod could have had a hat-trick

Blackpool 2-0 Hartlepool

Striker Brett Ormerod was the Blackpool hero as he grabbed two second-half goals to put his side in control against Hartlepool.

Hartlepool had actually started to come into the game before Ormerod opened the scoring on the hour.

Seventeen minutes later, in a similar move, he found the back of the net again to dent Hartlepool's hopes.

They deserved the victory. Brett Ormerod is on fire at the moment and youngster Danny Coid had a tremendous game

Hartlepool boss Chris Turner

With a noisy home crowd behind them, Blackpool started the game the livelier of the two sides and for the majority of the first half confined their visitors to their own half.

Williams was on fine form and denied Blackpool on several occasions.

Poor visitors

But it was Ormerod and Paul Simpson who were the thorns in Hartlepool's defence and caused them the most problems.

Simpson had the best chance of the game as the half hour approached.

He found himself unmarked six yards out and latched onto a pass from Ormerod, but his shot went wide.

The visitors very rarely created an attacking chance with Blackpool keeper Phil Barnes having very little to do.

And the home side would consider themselves unlucky to have gone into the break with the scores still level.

When the teams came out for the second half, the pace slowed a little and Hartlepool were getting into the game and creating some chances.

We have beaten them twice in the League this season and I am sure we can beat them again

Hartlepool boss Chris Turner

But Ormerod soon killed off any Hartlepool spirit when he latched onto a pass from Gary Parkinson to put the ball past the outstretched arms of Williams into the back of the net.

Hartlepool manager Chris Turner brought Henderson on in place of Craig Midgeley in a bid to grab the equaliser.

But no sooner had that happened when Ormerod found a way past Williams again to make the score 2-0.

He could have had a third in the last 10 minutes of the game, but his shot was palmed away by Williams as it was heading for the left-hand corner.

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Blackpool: Barnes, Parkinson, Jaszczun, Reid, Shittu, Wellens, Clarkson, Coid, Simpson, Ormerod, John Murphy. Subs: Hills, Bushell, Hughes, Mike Milligan, Jamie Milligan.

Hartlepool: Williams, Barron, Westwood, Lee, Knowles, Tinkler, Stephenson, Miller, Clark, Lormor, Midgley. Subs: Hollund, Fitzpatrick, Easter, Henderson, Sharp.

Referee: W Burns (Scarborough)