Hartlepool United secured a commanding 3-1 victory over Carlisle United at The Prestige Group Stadium. The home side asserted their dominance early on, laying the foundation for a memorable night under the lights.
The breakthrough came in the 12th minute. A well-worked move from Hartlepool saw Tyrese Sinclair find the back of the net, giving his team a deserved lead. The assist was provided by Tom Parkes, who threaded a pass through the Carlisle defence.
Carlisle United struggled to find their rhythm in the opening period. Their cause was not helped when Harvey Macadam received a yellow card in the 14th minute for a foul.
The second half began with Hartlepool extending their lead. Just moments after the restart, Alex Reid netted Hartlepool’s second goal, assisted by Matty Daly.
The momentum continued in Hartlepool’s favour. In the 59th minute, Harvey Macadam was shown a second yellow card, resulting in a red and leaving Carlisle with a significant disadvantage. Hartlepool capitalised on their numerical superiority, and substitute Calvin Okike added a third goal in the 77th minute, just moments after coming on.
Despite being down to ten men and three goals adrift, Carlisle United showed resilience. In the 80th minute, substitute Georgie Kelly pulled a goal back for the visitors, assisted by Morgan Feeney.
The referee, Declan Bourne, issued several yellow cards, including one for Hartlepool’s Tyrese Sinclair in the 71st minute. Substitutions were made by both sides throughout the second half, with Carlisle making a triple change around the hour mark and Hartlepool also utilising their bench effectively.
This victory sees Hartlepool United continue their push up the English National League table, strengthening their position in the top half. Carlisle United will be disappointed with this result, particularly given the red card that disrupted their efforts. Hartlepool’s attacking prowess was on full display, securing a deserved three points.
