|
March
Pool
2 Northampton Town 1. Pool started the month of March with the return
of old boy Stevie Howard to the Vic for the first time since he was sold
to the Cobblers twelve months previous. Howard claimed in the Hartlepool
Mail the night before the match, that he wanted to "add a hat trick"
to the two goals he'd already scored past Pool this season. Howard still
keeps in touch with many of the Pool squad (in particular captain Micky
Barron) and was keen to join team on their end of season 'jolly' to Magaluf
as he did last year! Pool got off to a flying start when in only the sixth
minute Paul Stephenson opened the scoring with a stunning volley. A Gary
Strodder free kick was headed back by Graeme Lee to Stevo whose 25-yard
volley rocketed into the bottom left hand corner of the net, giving Welch
no chance. Howard's frustration grew and resulted in a high elbow whilst
challenging his 'mate' Micky Barron. Pool's skipper took a nasty fall
as a result, but was able to continue. Pool took a two goal lead in the
29th minute. Paul Stephenson's corner was brilliantly met by the towering
Spike Lee at the far post for his 6th goal of the season. In the 32nd
minute Northampton got themselves back into the game. A left wing free
kick was flicked on by Carlo Corrazin, Martin Hollund in the Pool goal
seemed to have the ball in his hands, but it slipped through and into
the net. Hollund disappointment was clear for all to see, but the Town
End immediately got behind him and after a word from Darren Knowles and
captain Barron, Hollund dusted himself down and picked himself up. He
would fully redeem himself with an excellent second half display as Pool
held out for a vital win.
Pool 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 0. More rumours of interest in
Pools 14 goal top scorer Tommy Miller had been flying around before this
Tuesday night match with Brighton. Wigan put a bid of £400,000 in for
the Pool youngster the previous week, which was promptly turned down by
boss Chris Turner. David Platt of Nottingham Forest has admitted he is
interested, but cannot see him tempting Miller to Forest before the transfer
deadline. Over the weekend Chris Turners mate Gordon Strachan said in
a interview he would have to pay £800,000 for Miller, and that's all he
paid for Chippo. The figure of £800,000 can be see as the price put on
Millers head by Turner and the Pool board, there's no doubt Turner and
Strachan will have discussed Millers future as Coventry did Pools a favour
with the signing of Sam Shilton. Turner put a bid in to Newcastle hoping
to take striker James Coppinger on loan, however Scottish side Hearts
were rumoured to be preparing a £600,000 bid for the former Darlington
striker and he would not make his decision before the game with Brighton.
Arriving at the Vic on the back on two good results Brighton looked full
of confidence and passed the ball around quickly. Pool suffered from not
having the presence of Lee up front and found chances hard to come by.
In first half injury time Tommy Miller skipped past two challenges before
unleashing a shot which cannoned off the post. The second half followed
the same pattern as the first. Brighton had the majority of position but
failed to trouble the Pool defence, on the one occasion when the defence
was breached Pool keeper Martin Hollund made a spectacular finger tip
save. In second half injury time Pool had what looked like a certain penalty
turned down. Substitute Adam Boyd chased a Brighton defender who fell
just before the goal line and looked to clearly stop the ball with his
hand waiting for a free kick to be awarded for a push. The referee checked
with his linesman who indicated nothing. The Pool players appealed but
still no joy. If it wasn't a penalty it most have been a free kick to
Brighton!
Before Pool travelled to Barnet, James Coppinger signed on the dotted
line for a loan spell with Chris Turners promotion chasing side. He was
added to the squad for the trip to London village. Turner admitted just
before he confirmed the signing of Coppinger that he could produce a list
of FORTY strikers he has tried to loan or buy in the last fortnight. Paul
Arnison, a Hartlepool born right back also joined Pool on loan, again
from Newcastle. Arnison was the captain of Newcastle's reserve team on
several occasion, but joined his home town club in the search of first
team football. Barnet 1 Pool 1. The game stayed 0-0 until the 73rd
minute Pool took the lead. Paul Stephenson crossed and Lee flicked the
ball on for substitute James Coppinger to tap the ball home. In the 87th
minute Hartlepool born Paul Arnison came on for Paul Stephenson. With
time just about up disaster for Pool. Against the run of play Ken Charlery
headed home from a right wing cross to deny Pool a vital away win.
Chris Freestone returned from a successful loan spell at Cheltenham, to
see if he had a future at Hartlepool.
The Robins boss Steve Cotteril wanted to keep Freestone for a second month,
but the former Middlesborough and Northampton striker chose to return
to Pool and try to force his way back into first team contention. Freestone
had scored two goals whilst at Whaddon Road, and impressed many of the
league newcomers fans. Pool 2 Torquay United 0. Pool hosted another of
their play off rivals Torquay at the Vic. James Coppinger started his
first game in the blue and white strips, and was partnered by Graeme Lee
who was continuing his stint as emergency target man. Pool got off to
a great start when in only the 10th minute of the game Paul Stephenson
tried his luck from for 25 yards, and scored his second long distance
goal in consecutive home games. After a mid-season goal drought, the midfield
man has regained his eye for goal at a vital time. Pool wrapped the points
up in the 77th minute. Lee Fitzpatrick made a surging run which ended
in his shot being blocked, but Graeme Lee was the first to react and poke
the ball under the on rushing visiting keeper. This was Spike's 6th goal
of the season and his 3rd since his move from central defence to the front
line. Mid March and Pool were sitting in 6th place in the table, looking
good for at least a play off berth come the end of the season.
Chester City 1 Pool 1. A trip to the team at the bottom of the
table is never easy. Pool know this all to well after spending sometime
on the bottom last season. Remember Leyton Orient arriving at the Vic?
Six wins in the row, 6 goals put past Mansfield in their previous game.
Still they left the Vic empty handed. So Chris Turner knew what to expect
form Ian Atkins battling Chester side. Pool suffered an early blow when
on only three minutes Graeme Lee was stretchered off with what was at
first rumoured to have been a broken leg. It was later announced that
the damage was limited to knee ligament trouble, but Spike was still to
miss around 6 weeks of the season. Kevin Henderson replaced Lee in the
forward line. Chester drew first blood in the 23rd minute when Scott Hemmings
easily beat Paul Stephenson who had dropped back to cover Darren Knowles.
Hemming then smashed his shot past Hollund who was none to happy with
Stephenson. In the second half Pool finally came more into the game. Early
into the half Beckett clashed with Martin Hollund, but after treatment
Hollund was able to carry on. The turning point came in the middle of
the half as Darren Moss fouled Clark. A bit of afters followed and Moss
appeared to stamp on Clark. Moss was sent off and Pool saw their chance.
Strodder saw a header cleared, but on 76 minutes Lee Fitzpatrick pulled
Pool back on terms. Paul Stephenson fed the ball to Fitzpatrick from the
wing and he slide the ball home from inside the box. Pool pushed men forward
but could not find a winner and had to settle for a point. Disappointing,
but not the end of the world.
York City 2 Pool 1. When the season is over, you can look back
and picked out lost points that became so vital come the end of the football
year. This point was one of them. Before the match a move which stunned
the majority of supporters. Gary Jones moved out to Halifax initially
on loan. Pool were chasing promotion, so lending your most consistent
striker to another third division club seemed a very strange move. Jones
had failed to recreate the form which brought him the golden boot whilst
he was at Notts County, but his all round game was excellent. Chris Turner
decision to farm him out bemused many. In through the Pool transfer door
came Oldham striker Paul Beavers, a physique similar to Steve Fletcher
looked impressive, but the recent record of injury after injury didn't
look too promising. May Beavers was going to be the targetman Chris Turner
had been looking for all season. The relatively short trip to Bootham
Cresent was taken up by 1500+ Poolies as the rain came down and made the
undercover seating very attractive and the extra pound it cost to transfer
was money well spent! Chris Turner chose to give Chris Freestone his first
start since his return from Cheltenham Pool looked a little uncomfortable
with a new 4-4-2 formation in the first half and went behind in the 11th
minute. A break down the Pool right saw a low cross fired across the box
and Williams was on hand at the far post to slot the ball home.
Into the second half and Paul Stephenson returning to one of his old haunts
started to pull the strings in midfield. Pool were on level terms in the
53rd minute. Chris Freestone headed down to on loan James Coppinger who
hooked the ball into the top corner of the net, much to the pleasure of
the Pool fans behind the goal and in the corner seats. Seconds later Chris
Freestone was set free and with only the keeper to beat he scuffed his
shot and an excellent chance for Pool to take the lead was gone. It was
City substitute Colin Alcide who grabbed the headlines. York gained a
corner in the last minute of the game, Ian Clark headed the ball off the
line but it was pumped back in and Martin Hollund palmed away, the third
cross fell to Alcide who made no mistake and rammed the ball home. Another
point lost, together with the two lost at Barnet, late mistakes were starting
to cost Pool dearly. Pool 3 Brann 1. Pools Norwegian connections
surfaced again as they entertained Brann Bergen for a week. Brann preparing
for the start of the new season in Norway spent a week as guest of Pool
and played two games (Sunderland + Huddersfield) before a final friendly
with Pool. Second half goals from Shilton, a Brann penalty, a Paul Arnison
penalty and a header from Lee Fitzpatrick gave Pool a comfortable win
in very wet conditions.
After gaining only 1 point from the away games at Chester and York, Pool
left March in 8th position, just outside of the play off's. April was
going to be a massive month and a huge test for Chris Turner and his team.
The story
continues.............April.
|
