HARTLEPOOL UNITED lost 1-0 at Yeovil, a result that leaves them 11 points shy of safety in League One. A seventh minute goal from Joe Edwards proved the difference, in a game which Pools dominated the second period. In what was likely to be Micky Barron’s last game in charge, the caretaker boss was disappointed at the manner the goal was conceded. Sam Foley was given far too much time to cross from the left side and Edwards poked in at the near post. Conceding so early and Barron feared the worst. But the first half was a flat affair, with neither side creating much.

Yeovil bounced back from consecutive defeats to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over League One basement boys Hartlepool. A first-half strike from on-loan midfielder Joe Edwards fired the Glovers to their fourth home league win of the season – heaping further misery on the beleaguered Pools, now winless in 16 games in all competitions. The hosts started brightly and took the lead after seven minutes when Sam Foley’s teasing cross was turned home by Edwards, in his second loan spell at Huish Park from Bristol City. The Somerset side continued to control a first half devoid of both tempo and fluency, with Daniel Johnson and Paddy Madden coming closest to doubling Yeovil’s advantage before the break.

Yeovil bounced back from consecutive defeats to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over League One basement boys Hartlepool. A first-half strike from on-loan midfielder Joe Edwards fired the Glovers to their fourth home league win of the season – heaping further misery on the beleaguered Pools, now winless in 16 games in all competitions. The hosts started brightly and took the lead after seven minutes when Sam Foley’s teasing cross was turned home by Edwards, in his second loan spell at Huish Park from Bristol City. The Somerset side continued to control a first half devoid of both tempo and fluency, with Daniel Johnson and Paddy Madden coming closest to doubling Yeovil’s advantage before the break.

Gary Johnson would like to keep Bristol City youngster Joe Edwards for longer, but admitted that timing was of the essence when approaching talks. The versatile full-back’s loan at Yeovil expires at the end of next month, with his contract at his parent club due for renewal at the end of the season. Edwards scored the only goal of the Glovers’ clash with Hartlepool on Saturday, converting Sam Foley’s cross while playing in a more advanced right wing role. Yeovil manager Johnson said: “At the moment, we are happy to have him. Like all young players, they are up and down, but he has certainly been beneficial to us and we would like to keep him, of course we would.

SCARRED by the 6-1 drubbing at Chesterfield seven days earlier, Micky Barron admits he feared the worst after 10 minutes at Yeovil Town. Already trailing following a soft concession when Joe Edwards stole in to score at the near post, Pools were on the back foot and alarmingly sluggish and complacent. But a second-half performance in which they bombarded the home box – ultimately without reward – gave Barron reason for encouragement when he spoke to SportMail today. “Our second half performance should have got us at least a point,” reflected the caretaker boss. “I thought we started sloppy and the goal could have been stopped. I feared the worst at that point – you wonder if it’s going to be one of those days."