AFC Wimbledon 1 : 2 Hartlepool United FC - Hartlepool and Harewood hit back

Posted Sunday, August 24, 2014 by PA

Marlon Harewood earned Hartlepool their first win of the season - as they battled back to beat Wimbledon.

Pools had lost their first four games of the campaign, but deserved to get off the mark with a determined display against in-form opposition.

But they did it the hard way, as they fell behind on ten minutes.

Sean Rigg picked out striker Matt Tubbs in the area, and he was left unmarked 16 yards from goal to pick his spot and roll his finish past goalkeeper Scott Flinders.

Right-back Barry Fuller sent a cross against the bar as Pools were forced onto the back foot and Flinders saved low from an Adebayo Akinfenwa shot.

But seconds into the second half, Pools levelled.

Ryan Brobbel's free-kick ballooned up in the penalty area and striker Charlie Wyke was inside the six-yard box to head in after signing on loan from Middlesbrough on Friday.

Brobbel tore down the left on 68 minutes to roll the ball into Harewood's feet, and he turned two defenders and rolled his finish low past keeper James Shea.

Tubbs was then given a chance to level, after he was fouled in the area by Tommy Miller, but Flinders dived to his right to superbly push the shot away.