Sheffield Wednesday 1 Hartlepool United 0

Last updated : 14 February 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu celebrated his new contract at Sheffield Wednesday by scoring his 79th minute penalty to revive the Owls play off hopes with a 1-0 win against Hartlepool.

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The Congalese striker put pen-to-paper on a two-and-a-half year deal earlier in the week. And with eleven minutes remaining he stepped up to earn Wednesday only their third win in 19 games to keep alive their faint hopes of play-offs.

Another of Chris Turner's new recruits, Kim Olsen, won the penalty when he was wrestled to the ground by Hartlepool centre-halfChris Westwood.

Hartlepool, who were only six three points outside the top six at the start of play, should have had a goal on 35 minutes but Ola Tidman produced a spectacular reflex save to hold onto Gavin Strachan's volley.

Swede Tidman was making only his second start after spending five months on the side lines with two injuries.

He was the first goalkeeper to be tested in the slippery conditions, when he clutched Strachan's early free-kick at the second attempt.

Hartlepool centre-back Michael Nelson came closest to breaking the deadlock when he headed Strachan's 23rd minute corner just over Tidman's crossbar.

Chris Shuker then fired a volley wide from 20 yards after Brian Barry Murphy's weak clearance from a corner.

Then came Tidman's crucial save. After Leigh Bromby had deflected Eifion Williams shot into defender Strachan's path, a goal looked certain, but Tidman met the Scotsman's 16-yard effort in mid air.

Strachan and Paul Robinson both went close from distance as Hartlepool looked to make their pressure tell.

Former Wednesday prodigy Ritchie Humphreys was called on to block Adam Proudlock's goal bound effort in the 50th minute.

Bromby was Wednesday's best player and he showed with a confident sliding tackle on Shuker as the Hartlepool winger bore down on goal.