Hartlepool United 0 – 3 Stoke City

Jacob Brown’s neat finish and two own goals sent Stoke City through to the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Hartlepool United.

Euan Murray hammered the ball into the roof of his own net after Josh Tymon’s incisive early run and low delivery.

Brown doubled the Championship side’s lead, skipping past goalkeeper Ben Killip to roll in from a tight angle.

Rollin Menayese found his own net from Harry Clarke’s cross as Stoke set up a home tie with Aston Villa or Stevenage.

Jack Hamilton spurned a promising early chance for Hartlepool, misdirecting a header from a cross before Stoke scored their second.

The League Two strugglers had targeted a repeat of their upset at home to Stoke in the third round of the 2008-09 season when the visitors suffered a 2-0 defeat as a Premier League side.

Hartlepool’s hopes were hindered by their failure to produce a shot on target during a game in which the 2011 finalists’ superior cutting edge told.

The confident victory ended the Potters’ run of two successive defeats and ensured their place in the fourth round for a second successive season.

“If we had written a script for today, that was how it would have happened. It was a good, professional performance.

“We knew how difficult these games can be and it was a free hit for Hartlepool. Once we got the first goal, it made it difficult for them; they had to come out and try to get the ball back.

“We were nice and patient and created numerous chances. We could probably have scored six. All in all, it’s really pleasing.”

source – BBC