8/3/99 - Peterborough United 1 Hartlepool United 1
Chris Turner's second game in charge and another draw. In the short time
Turner and new central defender Gary Strodder have been at the club, one of the
third division's leakest defence's has turned all mean and stubborn. Only once
has the ball past Martin Hollund and that was a penalty in this game. All Turner
needs to do now, is sort out the goalscoring 'situation' and away we go.
Pool took the lead in the 32nd minute of this clash when Tommy Miller slotted in right footed from eight yards after collecting a throughball and then turning past Edwards. A classy ending to a classy move.
With the strikers not seemingly interested in scoring these days, its been down to the midfielders to chip in. This was
Tommy Millers' seventh goal of the season and fifth in the last ten games. Peterborough dragged themselves level
when referee Steve Baines (he's the one who used to be a pro) decided that Ian Clark had haltered the run of Steve Forbes.
Drewe Broughton calmly converted beyond Hollund's outstretched arm. Barry Fry was frustrated that his team didn't
play. Chris Turner was delighted that Pool never allowed Posh into the game. Take your pick which view you take.
Pool are now 7 points ahead of Scarborough, who do have two games in hand, but there again they've only won
one in their last six and currently have the worst form over six games in the third division. For Pool its a home game
with Leyton Orient on Tuesday night. Orient are top of the third division form league with one draw, then five consecutive
wins. Turner's next game, will not be easy.
Pool team : Hollund, Knowles, Barron, Strodder, Ingram, McKinnon, Clark, Beardsley, Miller, Irvine (Rush, 81 minutes), Baker. Unused subs : Hughes, Lee. Pool bookings : Strodder (38 minutes, foul). Attendance : 4854.
1/3/99 - Hartlepool United 0 Rotherham 0 [top]
Chris Turner's first game in charge and his first point as Pool manager.
Turner gave a debut to Gary Strodder signed for £25,000 from Notts County.
Strodder was the captain of the 97/98 championship winning side and should
provide much needed defensive strength, at 33 Strodder still have plenty to
offer and has signed a two year contract. The game was dominated by a galeforce wind and a bumpy pitch. Pool had first use of the elements but failed to make them count and by the time it was Rotherham's turn The Millers looked too tired to take advantage. Former England star Peter Beardsley created the best chance when he danced past three defenders only to see his powerful right-footed shot well saved. That
really is about all there is to report. Paul Baker turned up on the bench and looked much trimmer and
fitter than he has done for a very long time. Turner's next target will be to bring in some much needed
fire power to get Pool out of relegation danger. No Denny Ingram, rumour has it Hull are interested!
Pool team : Hollund, Knowles, Barron, Strodder, McKinnon, Elliot, Miller, Beardsley,
Midgley (Stokoe 71mins), Rush (Baker 68mins), Clark. Subs not used : Stephenson. Booked :
Strodder (58 minutes, foul). Attendance: 2680.
24/2/99 - Turner for Pool Post? [top]
After five weeks of messing around, Pools owners IOR have finally just about
decided that the man they want for the job is Chris Turner. Turner currently
youth team coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers has seen his team win there
respective league twice and finish second once. Turner has openly said that the
obvious next step for him would be into management. The ex-Sunderland goalkeeper
is expected to take the Pool reigns in time for the home game with Rotherham
on Saturday, if IOR can negotiate his release from his Wolves contract. Derek Fazeckerly who was hotly tipped for the job has joined Kevin Keegan on the coaching team of the English national squad.
24/2/99 - What a load of Cobblers [top]
Pool centre forward Steve Howard has joined Northampton Town for an initial
fee of £90,000. This could rise to £120,000 if Howard reaches a set number of
appearances. Northampton boss Ian Atkins said "He's not the finished article. He can score more goals than his record suggest, but he will create more goals for other people". Good luck to Steve from ITN, after receiving the stick he got from
sections of the Pool crowd early in the season who can blame him for taking the
chance to better himself? What most people never appreciated about Howard was that he may have lacked skill at times, but he always gave 100% for Hartlepool United football club. ITN expect his power play will be sorely missed during the remainder of our fight for league survival.
22/2/99 - Exeter City 2 Hartlepool United 1 [top]
Pool throw three points away shocker! Denny Ingram gave the Pool an early lead, stepping up in the 23rd minute to send Bayes the wrong way with a coolly taken right-foot effort from the penalty spot after Howard had tumbled under the challenges of Baddeley and Power. Pool then settled down and looked very comfortable sitting on the
lead with an occassional attack hoping to extend their lead. The plan was working well. In the second half Exeter increased
the pressure on the Pool goal, but with Micky Barron and Rob McKinnon looking in good solid form, the three much
needed points seemed ready to return North on the Pool team coach. But, there's always a but. Ian Clark was carried
of the field after extensive treatment and the lull in the action seemed to affect the contraction of the Pool players. On
90 minutes Quailey bundled home right footed from five yards after Flack had flicked on a Rees corner and Rowbotham had turned the ball back across the face of goal and then on 94 minutes Steve Flack raced onto Rowbotham's right-wing cross and found himself unchallenged to sweep a right foot shot past Hollund from eight yards. Smash and grab, Pool return
empty handed.
Pool team : Hollund, Knowles, McKinnon, Barron, Ingram, Elliott, Miller, Beardsley, Howard,
Irvine, Clark (sub 89 mins, Stephenson), Subs not used: Midgley Stokoe. Bookings : Beardsley (90 minutes).
Attendance : 2987
14/2/99 - Hartlepool United 2 Darlington 3 [top]
Darlington completed a league double over Pool with this 2-3 win at
Victoria Park. Gary Bennett gave the visitors the lead after only 2 minutes
with a stunning 25 yard drive which Martin Hollund had no chance of stopping.
Darlington doubled their lead after 19 minutes when Marco Gabbiadini's
turn allowed him to slip a shot into the corner of the goal. Pool acting manager
Brian Honour replaced Paul Stephenson with Tommy Miller to try and steady the
Pool midfield. Pool slowly pulled themselves back into the game but went
three nil down in the 61st minute when a Peter Duffield header again gave Martin
Hollund no chance. Stuart Elliot then drove a 25 yard shot onto the post and
two minutes later Stuart Irvine headed in from 2 yards after a Steve Howard
knock down. Ten minutes later substitute Tommy Miller forced the ball home after
his first shot was saved. Pool gave everything they had and put massive pressure
on the Darlington defence but a combination of poor finishing and plain exhaustion meant the equaliser did not come. Rob McKinnon made his second debut after
returning on a three month loan deal from Hearts.
Pool team : Martin Hollund, Darren Knowles, Michael Barron, Rob McKinnon,
Denny Ingram, Ian Clark, Peter Beardsley, Stuart Elliot, Paul Stephenson (Tommy
Miller), Stuart Irvine, Steve Howard.
8/2/99 - Hartlepool United 2 Halifax Town 0 [top]
Ian McGuckin played the last match of his second month on loan
to Pool from Fulham. Pool got off to a great start with a third minute goal from
Steve Howard. Paul Stephenson swung over a corner and Howard bundled the
ball across the line at the far post. Pool went 2-0 up and took complete
control of the game in the 15th minute. Brightwell knocked over a left wing
cross which Howard again, met with a glancing header which Tim Carter in
the Halifax goal got his finger tips to but could only help the
bal into the corner of the net. Howard could have completed a first
half hat-trick but just missed a Darren Knowles cross.
In the second half Halifax brought on sub Dave Hanson to replace
midfielder Murphy in a bid to get back into the game. And within a minute
the move nearly worked when Etherington fired just wide from the edge of the
box. Pool threatened to add to their lead when Beardsley found Craig Midgley
with a superb ball to the left wing, but the return cross was well cut out
by Carter who snatched the ball as Howard moved in. Brian Honour replaced
the injured Craig Midgley with Stuart Irvine late in the game but with time
running out niether team could add to the early scoring.
A good win for Pool, making it two wins out of two with two clean sheets.
Richard Lucas missed his first return to the Vic through injury but former
Pool target Mark Sertori did play and was booked late on for a foul on Midgley.
Next up for Pool is the home derby with rivals Darlington. Pool team : Hollund,
Knowles, Ingram, Barron, McGuckin, Elliot, Stephenson, Beardsley, Howard, Midgley (Irvine), Brightwell. Subs not used : Hutt, Miller. Attendance : 2374
1/2/99 - Search Goes On, Bid Turned Down [top]
Hartlepool United owners IOR this week continue to
interview potential candidates for the vacant managers
position. So far former Blackburn and Newcastle coach
Derek Fazackerley, Newcastle chief scout Chris McMenemy and
ex-Sunderland keeper Chris Turner have all been interviewed
and today ex-Burnley boss Jimmy Mullen and Sheffield United
scout Russell Slade will be interviewed for the 'hardest job
in football'. Pool director Harold Hornsey said "We are making
good progress and will be interviewing again this week. We want
to make the right choice and hope to have someone in place
as quickly as possible".
Pool had a record breaking offer of £200,000 turned down by
Lincoln City for central defender Steve Holmes over the weekend,
Hornsey said "We realise the position the club is in and want to
get things sorted both on and off the field. Our offer for
Holmes shows how much we want to improve the side will quality
players and we will not be stopping there. We are looking at
various players and will be trying to get the ones who will
strengthen our squad. After Saturday's win, hopefully things
are looking up and we need to make sure that continues to
happen."
1/2/99 - Rochdale 0 Hartlepool United 1 [top]
Pool dragged themselves out of the perverbial for another
week atleast, with this morale boost win away to Rochdale.
Pool scored the only goal of the game on 18 minutes when
Craig Midgley split the 'Dale defence with an astute pass to
Ian Clark just outside the penalty area and Clark beat Jones for
speed to score with a right foot shot from eight yards out.
Rochdale piled on the pressure but lacked ideas up front and
when they did hit the target they found Pool keeper Martin
Hollund in inspired form to keep Pools first clean sheet in the
league since the 2-0 win over Plymouth at the Vic on the 7th
of November. This result avenged the game at the Vic which
finished 0-1 to Rochdale. With Hull scrapping a draw and Scarborough
being thrashed 5-1 at Scunthorpe Pool are now seven points of
the bottom of the table.
Pool team : Hollund, Knowles (Miller, 46 mins), Ingram,
Barron, McGuckin, Elliot, Stephenson, Beardsley, Howard,
Midgley (Irvine, 50 mins), Clark. Sub not used : Hutt.
Pool bookings : none! Attendance :1943
27/1/99 - Hartlepool United 0 Lincoln City 3 [top]
Good bye AWS, hello battle for league survival. Pool bowed out of the
AWS cup at the Northern Quarter Final stage last night at the hands of
second division Lincoln City. After having the better of the first half Pool
fell apart once makeshift centre forward Graeme Lee was sent off in the 51st
minute. Paul Millers close range header put Lincoln in front before Gavin
Gordon made sure of the win with a ten yard volley. Lee Thorpe gave the score
line a very flattering look when he netted from close range with two minutes
left. Pool had their own chances, Peter Beardsley's 30 yard pile driver was kept
out by a flying save from John Vaughan and from the resulting corner Steve Holmes
deflected Craig Midgley's goalbound shot wide. Lee headed a Darren Knowles cross
over the bar and a Jeff Smith cross had nobody to turn it in after sterling
wing work. Ken Hodcroft made an appearance for the game, prompting thoughts
that the move for a new manager could be made very very soon. There has been
40 applicants with 9 serious contenders. Amoung the names being mentioned are:
Jan Molby, Neville Southall, Chris Waddle, Chris Turner, Billy Ayre, Chris
Kamara.
Pool team : Hollund, Knowles, Clark, Barron, Ingram, Smith, Beardsley, Miller, Midgley, Stephenson, Lee. Attendance :
25/1/99 - Hull City 4 Hartlepool United 0 [top]
Stand up and take the applause please Ian McGuckin and Martin Hollund. The only
two Pools players who had the nerve and decency to turn and acknowledge the
300 travelling Pools fans who were put through the most inept football performance
from a Hartlepool United team seen for many years. Martin Hollund has taken
a large amount of the blame for Pools slump and a lot of flak from the Pool fans
still turned and thanked the fans for travelling. Ian McGuckin who does not even
belong to Pools was the only player to join him. The performance of the rest of the
team was diabolical and it was plain to see the players were embarrassed by their
afternoons work. To be beaten by a revitalised Hull City side would be no disgrace
but to roll over without a fight is not acceptable. Name and shame :
Had a stinker :
- Darren Knowles (getting worse by the game)
- Stephen Hutt (Last game at centre half)
- Ian Clark (Matchfacts man of the match !)
- Denny Ingram (captain !)
- Stuart Irvine (cannot reproduce reserve's form)
- Peter Beardsley (didn't look very interested)
Should have been better :
- Craig Midgley (missed partner Steve Howard)
- Graeme Lee (Looked rusty at the back, looked lost up front)
Played with Pride :
- Ian McGuckin (same old Gucky)
- Tommy Miller (subbed, why?)
- Martin Hollund (tried his best, but used for target practice)
Brian Honour and Paul Baker may well have had the team fired up for the match with
Preston but were totally unprepared for this game. Hull to there credit through
everything forward straight from the whistle. Pool just weren't ready for it and
should have gone behind after 1 minute when a shot was cleared off the line.
Hull did take the lead after 10 when Gareth Williams foxed the defence hooking a
brilliant throughball over the top for Brown to race in and slot the ball past the
advancing Hollund. 2-0 came up in the 14th minute, D'Auria found space down
the right to fire in a low cross which Beardsley miscontrolled, leaving Brown to turn
and volley home from eight yards. 3-0 in the 28th minute, when there seemed little
danger as Greaves lofted a high ball into the box, but Hollund's weak punch fell kindly for
McGinty who smashed a right-footed, first time effort, into the back of the net from 18 yards.
And 4-0 after 41 minutes, the best goal of the game with D'Auria and Brown creating, after
exchanging passes with Williams in centre field, D'Auria released Brown and his first time
cross was converted by McGinty, arriving at pace, to smash an unstoppable shot past Hollund.
The score could have reached double figures if Hull had continued at the same pace as
the first 41 minutes of the game. However they took their foot of the gas and sat back
and watched as Pool forgot how to defend, pass and shot. Any hopes Brian Honour
had of taking the reigns were washed away (pardon the pun!) with this defeat which
drags Pool well and truly into the relegation dog fight with Hull and Scarboro.
This Pool need a miracle.
Pool team : Hollund, Knowles, McGuckin, Hutt, Lee, Clark,
Miller (Di Lella 60 mins), Beardsley, Irvine (Stephenson 60 mins), Midgley
(Brightwell 79 mins), Ingram. Booked : Lee 23 mins (foul), Clark 59 mins
(foul), Di Lella 84 mins (foul). Attendance : 5808
20/1/99 - Hartlepool United 2 Preston North End 2 (4-3 pens. aet) [top]
Mangerless Pool turned in one of their best performances of the season
against second division Preston to book a quarter final home match with Lincoln City in the Auto Windscreens Shield Northern Section. Tommy Miller was Pools hero
on the night giving the home side the lead after 73 minutes. Miller played a
superb one-two with Midgley creating space for himself to slot the ball in the
bottom right hand corner of the goal. For Pool to go 1-0 against third placed
Preston was an achievement in itself especially as Gustavo Di Lella had been sent
of in the 43rd minute for two bookable offences. The lead though didn't last long
and in the 78th minute Preston drew level. Jason Harris fed the ball to sub Kurt
Nogan whose cross was met by the head of Jon Macken, recalled Martin Hollund made
a superb reflex save but the ball rebounded off the crossbar to Julian Darby
who scored from a couple of yards. Preston took the lead in the 86th minute
when former Boro player Gary Parkinson scored from the penalty spot. With the tie
looking lost for the home side up popped Tommy Miller for his third goal in the
last two games. Peter Beardsley laid a pass back to Ian Clark who smashed a 25 yard
shot towards David Lucas, the visiting keeper did well to push the shot out but
Miller latched onto the rebound which he pushed home.
The game went into golden goal extra time and Preston had the first chance to
finish the tie. In the 101st minute Kurt Nogan blazed a shot wide from six yards
out. Darby also had an effort saved by Hollund. Pool should have wrapped the game up
in the last minute of extra time. Craig Midgley picked the ball up 30 yards from
goal. He beat two North End defenders before finishing in style, however referee
Mr Robinson judged the Pool start to have commited a foul. With extra time now
over penalties were left to settle the tie. The first three spot kicks for both
teams were scored. Martin Hollund made a superb save to deny Preston's fourth
penalty taker Harris. Peter Beardsley stepped up for Pool and blazed his kick high
over the bar. Hollund then saved again, this time from King. The final kick of the
10 was left to Tommy Miller who stepped up and nonchalantly score the deciding
kick to leave Pool 4-3 winners.
Pool team : Hollund, Knowles, Barron, Hutt, Ingram, Clark, Miller, Beardsley,
Di Lella, Howard, Midgley. Attendance : 1205
18/1/99 - Tait Steps Down [top]
Hartlepool United have today announced that manager Mick Tait has left
the club by mutual consent. Tait in charge for over two years said
"You cannot replace all the players but you can change the manager and try to improve things. I
feel it is best for the club, if I go and that is the way things work out sometimes". Peter Beardsley
has only recently joined the club and many thought that Beardsley would ultimately step into Tait's
shoes. A disastrous run of results has seen Pool fall to 22nd position in the third division and
Tait has paid the price for his teams poor recent defending and inability to kill teams off after
taking the lead. Paul Baker and Brian Honour have been placed in temporary charge while a
new manager is appointed. Peter Beardsley and the recently linked Jan Sorensen are sure to
be strong candidates for the position.
17/1/99 - Hartlepool United 2 Barnet 2 [top]
Barnet battled back and thought they had won with a great
second half performance in this Pools latest failed attempt to chalk
up a home win. Pools last home win for those with a short
memory was a 2-0 victory over Plymouth on the 7th of November.
Against an icy wind in the first half, Barnet restricted Pool to
one goal. Paul Stephenson swung in a right wing cross and Craig
Midgley finished smartly from two yards out. Barnet then dominated
after the break but veteran striker Ken Charlery missed chance after
chance for victory. In the 75th minute Barnet pulled level, Arber
hammered a left footer into the far corner of the net from the left
hand side of the area, 20 yards out. Barnet looked to have stolen
all three points when they went ahead in the 85th minute. Marlon
King scored with the easiest of opportunities a yard from goal,
knocked in following a right-wing corner. Pool though saved manager
Mick Tait's job for a little longer with an equaliser straight from
the restart. Substitute's Stuart Brightwell and Tommy Miller combined
for Miller to score with a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner
from 15 yards after picking up Brightwell's pass. For Pool, veteran
playmaker Peter Beardsley provided many glimpses of his class but the
heavy pitch didn't help and his colleagues weren't always able to
respond.
Pool team : Miotto, Knowles, Clark, Barron, McGuckin, Di Lella,
Beardsley, Stokoe, (sub 85 mins by Miller), Howard, Midgley,
Stephenson (sub 85 mins by Brightwell), Subs not used: Hutt.
Booked : Knowles 9 mins (foul); McGuckin 12 mins (foul); Di Lella 42 mins.
Attendance : 2233
11/1/99 - Cardiff City 4 Hartlepool United 1 [top]
Pool travelled to top of the table Cardiff City and were
convincingly beaten by the on form Bluebirds. Cardiff took
the lead after only 4 minutes when midfielder Danny Hill skated
round Tommy Miller and Ian McGuckin giving Wayne O'Sullivan the chance to
sweep home a right foot shot from 12 yards out. Cardiff quickly
doubled their lead in the 12th minute when Kevin Nugent
blasted a 20 yard shot past Simon Miotto in the Pool goal.
Cardiff went 3-0 up in the 67th minute when Danny Hill's
precise left side free kick found Jeff Eckhardt who powered home a
header at the left post. A minute later and it was 4-0.
Richard Carpenter's rapier like pass split the Pool defence
wide open and midfield Craig Middleton 18 yard right foot finish
was unstoppable. Pool scored a consolation goal when Ian Clark's
left foot drive ripped past John Hallworth 20 minutes from time.
Pool team : Miotto, Knowles (Midgley 66), Clark, Barron, McGuckin,
Ingram, Beardsley, Miller, Howard, Di Lella (Hutt 19), Stephenson.
Unused sub : Brightwell. Bookings : Barron 29 mins (foul), Howard 81 mins (foul).
Attendance : 7766
2/1/99 - Hartlepool United 2 Cambridge United 2 [top]
What would have easily been Pools lowest attendance of the season so far,
turned out to be the biggest as 3788 flocked to the Vic to see Peter Beardsley
make his Pool debut. Beardsley delighted the home crowed with the opening
goal of the game on 18 minutes. A Pool corner came out to Beardsley on the
edge of the box who duly dispatched a left foot volley from 25 yards into the
top right hand corner of the net with the slighest of deflections. However Cambridge
who are currently flying high were in no mood to roll over for the Beardsley
welcoming party. In the 48th minute Ian Clark sliced the ball into his own net
from a Butler cross while under no apparent pressure. Cambridge took the lead
in the 62nd minute when Russell skipped past two tackles as he cut in from the
left and scored with a low angled shot which went in at the far post. Pool
though deservedly equalised in the 68th minute when Captain Micky Barron finally
got his first ever goal for the club. A Paul Stephenson left wing free kick was
met by Barron at the far post and his five yard header gave the visiting keeper
no chance. Pool had chances to go on and win the game but could not get the all
important third goal.
Pool team : Miotto, Knowles, Clark, Barron, Lee (sub 46 mins Miller), Ingram, Beardsley, Stokoe (sub 46 mins Brightwell), Howard, Di Lella, Stephenson. Subs not used: Midgley. Bookings : Lee 36 mins (foul); Ingram 47 mins (dissent); Barron 57 mins (foul). Attendance : 3788
31/12/98 - Beardsley Joins Pool [top]
Ex England International Peter Beardsley has joined Pool until the end of
the current season. Beardsley released by Kevin Keegan at Fulham during November
had been expected to join Carlisle as Nigel Pearson assistant but instead choose
to join Mick Tait at Pool. Tait and Beardsley played together for the famous
Wallsend boys club as children and it was Beardsley desire to play on which helped
him make up his mind. Beardsley and Club reaction later when I find the file I
put them in !
Jan - Mar 99
