Accrington Stanley 3 - 1 Hartlepool United FC: Shay McCartan at the double in Accrington win

Two goals from Shay McCartan and an Adam Buxton strike made it a welcome return to the Wham Stadium for Accrington Stanley as they beat Hartlepool United 3-1 in Sky Bet League Two.

After five postponed home games, Stanley were at it from the start with Matt Crooks forcing a superb save out of Trevor Carson, McCartan firing at the Pools keeper and the lively Piero Mingoia heading inches wide.

Carson kept out a Billy Kee stooping header after 22 minutes but a minute later could do nothing to stop Buxton's free-kick tucking into the far bottom corner of the net from the edge of the area.

Hartlepool were unlucky not to equalise in their first meaningful attack after 32 minutes when loanee Ellis Harrison, from Bristol Rovers, crashed a header against the post from a corner.

Stanley were also denied at the other end by the woodwork after 38 minutes when Matt Pearson's header hit the post.

Stanley scored their vital second on the stroke of half-time when Crooks fed McCartan and the striker ran at the Pools defence and fired past Carson.

McCartan, in for the injured Josh Windass, made sure he seized his chance after 58 minutes when he rifled the ball home from 20 yards for his second.

Ronnie Moore made three substitutions with one of them, Rakish Bingham, finding the back of the net from 20 yards after 77 minutes but it proved just a consolation.