Hartlepool United FC 1 - 2 Accrington Stanley: Accrington move second after win at Hartlepool

Seamus Conneely and Tariqe Fosu got the goals as Accrington rose to second in Sky Bet League Two with a 2-1 win at Hartlepool.

The duo struck either side of Rakish Bingham's leveller to ensure Stanley, who began the game in fourth, rose into the automatic promotion places with three fixtures remaining.

Accrington looked too strong for an experimental Pools XI during the opening exchanges, taking a third-minute lead through Conneely.

He capitalised on the hosts' failure to clear a dangerous corner by unleashing a stunning volley that left Trevor Carson with no chance.

But the one-way traffic abated in the 25th minute as Hartlepool found an unexpected equaliser, Bingham producing a powerful back-post header to convert Jordan Richards' corner.

That proved a brief interlude, with Accrington resuming their assault on Pools' goal for the remainder of the opening period.

They grabbed a deserved second on the stroke of half-time when Josh Windass' deflected effort hit a post and dropped to Fosu, who slotted into an empty net.

Pools were the better side following the interval but could not find a leveller as the visitors grabbed a crucial three points.