County finally ended their Edgeley Park hoodoo with a well earned victory over Chris Turner's old club, Hartlepool United.

There was just one change from the team that were desperately unlucky against Chesterfield on Tuesday night. Ashley Williams came in to replace the promising Michael Raynes, who had the flu.

Young YTS, Jordan Hadfield was rewarded with his promising performances for the reserve team with his inclusion on the substitute's bench alongside the returning, Stuart Barlow. There was no Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, who joined Bradford City yesterday.

The Monkey Hanger's included former County player, Jon Daly in their squad following the Irishman's switch to Victoria Park earlier this month.

The opening few moments set the precedent for the rest of the afternoon, with some scrappy exchanges from both sides, County inevitably trying to stop Pools from playing football.

The first opportunity of the afternoon fell to top scorer, Warren Feeney whose shot from 8 yards out went well over the Hartlepool cross bar, following good work from the lively Harpal Singh, who had done well to keep the ball in play.

It was Singh who was again on hand to create County's next opportunity, this time however Hartlepool keeper, Konstantopoulos was equal to Chris Armstrong's shot.

Rejuvenated County finally broke the deadlock on the 19th minute, when Singh cut across the Hartlepool backline to produce a great cross for Warren Feeney who headed in his 13th goal of the season, and 3rd in 3 games from the inside post, to send Edgeley Park into rapturous applause.

The Hatters nearly doubled their lead moments later, when the impressive Singh again put a cross into the penalty area for Warren Feeney. The Northern Ireland hitman did well to get a shot in amongst a sea of Hartlepool players, but in the end it was well-saved by the keeper.

There was nearly an equaliser during the run of play, and many hearts inside of Edgeley Park skipped a beat, when the usually reliable James Spencer spilled a shot to allow Eifion Williams a chance to score, but the usually potent forward shot wide.

Despite this, County continued to press for a second and they almost found it when Singh fed Armstrong, whose shot on goal was just missed by Warren Feeney.

County came even closer on the 35th minute, when on-loan Kevan Hurst launched a screamer from 35 yards out but the ball had gone just over.

The afternoon was marred by a bad injury to Pools midfielder Jack Ross, whose clinical challenge on Harpal Singh saw him injure himself in the process and the Scottish midfielder ended up being taken off by paramedics. Despite this the challenge was rewarded with a booking and a free kick for County.

The second half saw the Jeckyl of County's Hyde as Hartlepool pressed for an equaliser. They won three corners within the first fifteen minutes as Turner's men struggled to get out of their own half.

James Spencer turned from hero to villain within just a few minutes, when he was on hand to pull off a brilliant reaction save to deny Adam Boyd, but moments later he again spilled a chance from former team-mate, Jon Daly. Luckily for the Stockport-born keeper he was able to save the ball on the second time of asking.

County created their own chances as well, first of all Australian Mark Robertson produced a volley from the edge of the County area.

Then a few moments later Warren Feeney broke free from a Pools attack, he found Keith Briggs, but his shot was blocked by Konstantopoulos. Chris Armstrong latched on to the rebound but his shot went well over.

County continued to withhold intense Hartlepool pressure, and it required some really dogged performances from all departments to clear the ball from the County penalty area.

Yet Hartlepool failed to really trouble James Spencer with any serious chances. The best opportunity fell to Anthony Sweeney, whose volleyed effort looked to have eluded James Spencer, but the ball went just wide of the post. County breathed a huge sigh of relief.

In fact it was the home side that produced the best opportunity in the dying moments when substitutes Adam Le Fondre and Stuart Barlow combined to produce a great opportunity for County to put the game beyond Pool's reach.

The veteran striker crossed from the far right of the penalty area and the young striker headed against the County post.

In the end though, this was County's day and each and everyone of the players went over to the Cheadle End to applaud the magnificent County faithful.

County: Spencer, Goodwin, Dolan, Ashley Williams, Hardiker, Hurst, Briggs, Robertson, Singh (Jackman 59), Feeney (Le Fondre 82), Armstrong (Barlow 82).
Unused Subs: Cutler, Hadfield.
Booked: Briggs.
Goals: Feeney 19.

Hartlepool: Konstantopoulos, Ross (Barron 45), Nelson, Clark, Brackstone, Williams, Strachan (Daly 58), Sweeney, Humphreys, Boyd, Porter.
Unused Subs: Provett, Istead, Appleby.
Booked: Williams, Ross.

Att: 4,548.

Ref: L Mason (Lancashire).