Kieren Donnelly scored the only goal as Tamworth beat Hartlepool United 1-0 at Victoria Park, giving the Lambs their first away league victory of the season and condemning Pete Wild to defeat in his first match as Pools head coach.
Hartlepool were handed a major opportunity to take the lead after 20 minutes when they were awarded a penalty, but Jack Nolan was unable to convert from the spot and Tamworth escaped with the game still goalless.
The missed penalty proved costly three minutes before half-time. Hayden Carson supplied Donnelly and the Tamworth forward found the net in the 42nd minute to give Andy Peaks’ side a 1-0 lead going into the interval. It was Donnelly’s second goal in successive matches after he opened the scoring in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Sutton United.
Wild, who had only been appointed Hartlepool head coach on Thursday, made his first change 10 minutes after the restart as Jordan Hugill replaced Chris Popov. Tamworth responded in the 63rd minute when Ben Acquaye came on for Riccardo Calder.
Hartlepool made another double change at the same time, introducing Luke Charman for Cole Deeming and Brooklyn Ilunga for Nolan as the hosts continued their search for an equaliser. Tamworth goalkeeper Rhys Lovett and the defence in front of him held firm as Pools were unable to turn their pressure into a goal.
Peaks introduced Gabriel Gartside-Kelly for Olly Dyson with 16 minutes remaining, while Hartlepool made their final change two minutes later as Campbell Darcy replaced Jack Hunter.
With Tamworth still protecting their one-goal advantage, Donnelly and Tom McGlinchey were withdrawn in the 87th minute and replaced by Jake Hutchinson and Syd Agina. The Lambs saw out the closing stages to secure consecutive clean sheets for the first time this season.
The victory completed a productive four days for Tamworth following their 2-0 midweek success against Sutton. Having failed to keep a clean sheet in their opening 10 National League matches, Peaks’ side have now recorded two in succession, while the win at Victoria Park was their first away league victory of the campaign.
Donnelly has scored in both games during Tamworth’s two-match winning run and now has eight National League goals this season. The Lambs ended Saturday 18th with 14 points from 12 matches, moving three points clear of the relegation places.
Hartlepool remain 22nd with nine points after suffering a sixth consecutive league defeat. Pools have not collected a point since beating Woking on 5 September and have now gone two matches without scoring, leaving Wild with a sizeable task after beginning his tenure with defeat.
