MICHAEL Appleton was delighted to see his Oxford United side come out on top against Trevor Carson after the goalkeeper thwarted them three times last season.

Danny Hylton converted Alex MacDonald's 70th-minute cross to give the U's a 1-0 win at Hartlepool United.

Both Hylton and Liam Sercombe were prevented from making the game safe in the closing stages, as Carson starred to keep Pools in with a chance of claiming a share of the points.

United held on to go top of Sky Bet League Two, but the goalkeeper's display was of no surprise to Appleton, having seen the goalkeeper put in outstanding performances against United for Cheltenham Town last season.

He said: "The keeper is very good, he was a bit of a nightmare for me last year.

"We played Cheltenham three times and I think he was man of the match in each game.

"He always seems to do quite well against us, but fortunately we were the ones to get the goal and the three points.

"It was a great finish.

"I thought Alex MacDonald in the build-up to the goal did fantastically well and I thought he was a catalyst for us in the second half, everything he did was positive."

He added: "You can see the character in the team, it's not just here but in some of the other games we've had away from home we've had to dig in at times.

"They did that for a period, but I thought he second half was a much more controlled performance from us."

The key moment in the game was a save at the other end in the 56th minute, when Benji Buchel blocked a shot from Mikael Mandron.

Hylton said: "Benji pulls off saves like that every day in training, he's a really good goalie."

United's No 10 was overdue for a goal, with his last strike coming in the 2-1 win at York City in September.

  • Highlights from the win at Hartlepool United, via Oxford United's official Youtube channel

His barren run had to be ended as a substitute, having been forced off in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Newport County with stomach cramps.

Hylton said: "Of course I'm happy to score.

"It's been a bit of mixed week, I had to come off early on Tuesday because I didn't feel well.

"Then I found myself out of the team, but I'm happy to come on and score the winner.

"It's not about me or any individual, whoever plays its about the team getting the three points."