Karl Hawley proved the difference as he struck to give Stuart Gray's side a hard-fought victory at Sixfields.

Hawley's 17th minute strike put the Cobblers on course for their second successive win in the league, following on from the 3-1 victory at Crewe last week.

The on-loan striker, playing his last game for the Cobblers before returning to parent club Preston, held off opposition defender Sam Collins after being fed by Abdul Osman, turning his man to shoot past away keeper Arran Lee-Barratt.

And that proved the only score of the contest in a lively encounter.

Stuart Gray named an unchanged side from that which won at Crewe, with fit-again skipper Chris Doig on the bench.

Luke Guttridge came close to doubling Town's lead on a couple of occasions in the first half, firing over with a smart volley and shooting wide with a ferocious shot from distance.

Kevin Kyle had a golden chance to equalise for Hartlepool from six yards out, but scuffed his shot wide of Frank Fielding's goal when unmarked.

Fielding had several saves to make in an even first half, but all were fairly comfortable for the rarely-troubled keeper.

Hawley's turn and shot was the best effort for Town in the second period, forcing a neat save from away stopper Lee-Barratt.

Both side's attacked at will, with little play coming in midfield, though there were few clear cut chances after the break.

Town survived a few scares at the back, with Hartlepool possessing plenty of attacking prowess.

They couldn't find away through the Town back-line though, with the Cobblers holding on to take the spoils.

Cobblers: Fielding, Crowe (Coke, 72 mins), Jackman, Hughes, Akinfenwa, Holt, Davis (Doig, 58 mins), Osman, Little, Hawley, Guttridge (Gilligan, 58 mins). Subs not used: Constantine, Dunn

Hartlepool: Lee-Barrett, Humphreys (Robson, 71 mins), Nelson, Collins, Porter, Monkhouse (MacKay, 85 mins) Clark, Brown, Sweeney, Kyle. Subs not used: McCunnie, Liddle, Rowell

Attendance: 5,277

Away Fans: 245