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Pools started with the 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1 that has been Phillips' preference in recent weeks, with Agyemang replacing Duffus on the left side. Rochdale set up in a 4-4-2 with ex-Poolie Devante Rodney playing as a slightly withdrawn striker.

Both sides matched up similarly in a 4-2-3-1 shape, though Halifax were able to stretch their hosts in dominating first-half possession. With Max Wright staying high and wide on the right touchline, Tylor Goulden made underlapping runs into an area between Crawford and Duffus, with Ferguson caught between pressing the ball and following Wright over his left shoulder - he recovered well to stop the cross on one occasion as Goulden strolled into the space unattended. Pools actually got deeper as the half went on, causing two problems: the gap between the centre halves and the forward line was such that Florent Hoti was afforded too much space to place in in the number 10 position, and before half time, Hoti himself was able to receive a pass almost on the goal line while still in an onside position.

Despite the absence of Dieseruvwe and Umerah, Oxford City played a back three and suffered as often Pools have with that set-up this season. As Grey the lone striker preferred to receive passes on the floor, two centre backs stood ready for a physical battle that never materialised, with space outside of them where Pools easily created an overload. Within 10 minutes, wing backs Lumeka and Coyle had swapped sides in an effort to stem the tide, but it could easily have been 3-0 by the time Ross Jenkins went to a back four and the visitors were able to double up against the various threats of Ferguson overlapping Cooke and Crawford moving into space on the right.

Ferguson and Burton for Patterson and Onariase (illness) were the two changes from midweek as Pools came up against a Bromley 3-5-2 featuring two outright centre forwards. This did give Pools a numerical advantage in midfield in the first half, and they began to combine neatly in possession with Cooke drifting out towards the left-hand side, but the Bromley counter attack was a constant threat. This was the pattern of the game more-or-less established.