Morecambe 0 : 1 Hartlepool United FC - Pools pick up three points

Hartlepool's hopes of avoiding relegation out of the Football League were given a boost with a well-earned 1-0 win over Morecambe.

Pools were gifted the lead through an Andy Parrish own goal 10 minutes before half-time and they held on despite some intense Morecambe pressure.

The only goal came when a long ball from Nicky Featherstone dissected the Morecambe defence and Parrish could only steer the ball past his own goalkeeper Andreas Arestidou.

It was Hartlepool who had the better of the opening exchanges with Dan Jones heading a Jonathan Franks corner inches wide of the left-hand post and Aaron Tshibola firing just wide from the edge of the area.

Morecambe struggled in the early stages with Kevin Ellison and Laurence Wilson blazing efforts well over the bar before the former wasted their best opening by shooting straight at Scott Flinders.

Flinders made a superb save from an Ellison header with 20 minutes remaining before Featherstone cleared the follow up from Jack Redshaw off the line.

Stewart Drummond drilled a low shot inches wide and the Shrimps hit the crossbar when Ellison got the touch on a low Wilson cross.

Ryan Bird was denied a second Hartlepool goal by an excellent goal-line clearance from Morecambe skipper Mark Hughes before Padraig Amond wasted a glorious chance when he missed the target as Hartlepool held on for a much-needed win.