Stevenage vs Hartlepool United. Sky Bet League Two.
Lamex StadiumAttendance3,023.
Saturday 9 August 2014 18:37, UK
Chris Whelpdale netted the only goal of the game as Stevenage began life back in League Two with a 1-0 victory over Hartlepool.
Whelpdale joined Stevenage, who finished bottom of League One last season, from Gillingham over the summer and made an immediate impact with a 60th-minute winner. The 27-year-old cracked home a low volley from 20 yards to finally beat inspired Hartlepool goalkeeper Scott Flinders, who had made three fine saves before conceding. Hartlepool hit the bar after only two minutes when Jack Compton's shot beat Stevenage 'keeper Sam Beasant but came back off the crossbar. Whelpdale almost scored on 20 minutes, denied only by a fine covering tackle from Bradley Walker before Flinders kept out the follow-up from the impressive Charlie Lee. Flinders then made a point-blank save from a close-range Tom Pett shot after a well-worked free-kick was rolled into the area. Flinders saved well from Adam Marriott and then Lee before he was finally beaten, with Hartlepool's best chance a Sam Collins header which went wide ten minutes from time.
