League leaders Swansea ended their recent lean run with a 3-1 win at Hartlepool which strengthened their grip on the League One title race.The home side made a dream start by taking the lead after 28 seconds. Joel Porter gave James Brown the chance to shoot from the right and when his effort was parried by goalkeeper Dorus De Vries, Gary Liddle pounced on the loose ball to score from two yards.

Swansea came back, though, and after a lot of pressure they were level after 23 minutes, Darren Pratley blasting in a 20-yard shot after the home defence failed to clear a right-wing free-kick from Thomas Butler.

There was controversy on the stroke of half-time when Swansea took the lead, referee Lee Probert giving a penalty after what appeared to be a good challenge from Ben Clark on Jason Scotland, who scored his 29th of the season from the spot.

After the break the game wasn't quite so hectic, though De Vries did well to tip a Michael Nelson header over the bar and then saved well again from the same player as Hartlepool pressed for an equaliser.

But Swansea broke after 72 minutes and Pratley scored his second as he rolled in a 20-yard shot as home goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett came off his line and lost the ball.

More Football News from TEAMtalk