Monkhouse earns Pools points

Andy Monkhouse earned Hartlepool a first home win of the season after a 2-1 victory over Walsall.Monkhouse headed in after 56 minutes to engineer victory at the fourth time of asking, but for the Saddlers the misery continues after their sixth game without a win.Yet the visitors took the lead after nine minutes when a bout of head tennis inside the home penalty area led to Julian Gray steering a volley past keeper Jake Kean.Antony Sweeney levelled on 44 minutes though, when his angled overhead kick went over goalkeeper Jon Brain into the far corner.Monkhouse's goal, a free header from an Evan Horwood free-kick put Pools in front after the break and the left-winger had another chance from a similar position soon after, but nodded over.The Saddlers' twice went close to a late leveller. First after 86 minutes, Kean saved low to keep out a drive from Reuben Reid, before he raced off his line to smother the striker when he was in on goal.