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October
Pool
2 Darlington 0. Pool boss Chris Turner switched back to a 5-3-2 system
for the first of this season's derby games with Darlington, a defeat for
Pool could have seen them drop to bottom and Darlington go top. As usual
the atmosphere was electric and we were treated to a Premiership referee
in the form of Mr Uriah Renne. Both Sam Shilton and Lee Fitzpatrick made
full Pool debuts. Darlington boss David Hodgson stuck with the same side
which beat Plymouth 2-0 the week early, which meant Marco Gabbiadini was
passed fit even after breaking his nose in the Plymouth win. The first
half proved to be a niggly affair with bookings alround and only a handful
of chances.
Pool got of to a flying start in the second half though. Darren Knowles
sent in a right wing cross which Sam Shilton header past the static Samways
for his first league goal. Shilton's goal lit the blue touch paper for
mass celebration's in the Vic, from the Pools fans only though! Darlington
looked rattled by Pools passion and Oliver was the next player in Rennie's
notebook. Darlington's best chance of the game came after Gabbiadini and
Nogan linked in the Pool box, Martin Hollund saved the resulting shot
and Runi Vindheim was on hand to clear the ball away. In the 69th minute
Pool went 2-0 up. Lee Fitzpatrick went straight for the heart of the Darlington
defence who stood off and allowed him to shot, he did, from 30 yards and
the ball nestled nicely in the bottom of the net. Take the first goal
celebrations and double them as again the Vic roared to the cheers of
Poolies. Both goals coming right in front of the travelling Darlington
fans! Two minutes later Darlington nearly pulled a goal back when Russell
crept in behind Barron and slide the ball past Hollund, with the ball
rolling towards the line Darren Knowles flung himself from the six yard
box and with the help of the post cleared the ball away, the third loudest
cheer of the day, a rendition of one Darren Knowles and the clinched fist
salute from Knowles followed as the party continued. Four minutes of injury
time just prolonged the singing as Pool ran out comfortable winners.
"We wanted it more. The commitment and passion we showed was excellent.
We deserved the three points over the 90 minutes" said Chris Turner after
the match. The result launched Pools season. George Reynolds had offered
his players £2,000 a man to beat Pool. Both Reynolds and Hodgson
learnt a lesson at the Vic. Money and complacency certainly don't win
football matches, Pool had the passion and the three points.
25 year old left back Chris Perkins had rejoined his former club Chesterfield
on a month's loan. Perkins joined Pool in the summer on a bosman free
from Chesterfield and made 9 appearances in the blue and white of Pool.
However he was struggling with the travelling and being away from his
family proved a major stumbling block in settling at Pool. Perkins said
"This move will hopefully spark my football again. I admit I've been struggling
with the travelling up here and the fact I have rarely been able to see
my two year old son. It has meant I have not been enjoying my football
as much as I should be. I do like it at Hartlepool and want to help them
do well, but I know I have not been playing at my best here."
Pool 2 Hull 0. Pools second home game in a week saw another two
goal victory. Goals from Tommy Miller and a last minute strike from Chris
Freestone enabled Pools impressive win over Darlington to be used as a
building block to bigger and better things. Chris Turner said "I was delighted
with the team's display. After the win against Darlington last Saturday,
it was important that we went on and built on that with another win".
Andy Dibble was allowed to join Carlisle on loan as Martin Hollund was
impressing in the Pool goal.
Mansfield 2 Pool 3. Pools third win in a row came at the expense
of the Stags at Field Mill. Sam Shilton opened the scoring with his second
goal for the club. Tony Lormor pull the Stags level as the first half
ended 1-1. Paul Stephenson put Pool back in front after the break and
Tommy Miller scored from the spot to give Pool a two goal advantage. Bobby
Hassell blasted a 25 yard shot past Martin Hollund, but Pool held out
for a valuable away win. Pool were drawn at home to second division Millwall
in the FA Cup first round.
Rotherham 3 Pool 0. Pool quickly recalled Andy Dibble as Martin
Hollund suffered an injury in training. There will always be off days
during a long season. This was one of Pools. Rotherham came out with all
guns blazing at hit three past Pool in the opening half hour. Although
Pool dragged themselves back into the game and played some good football,
they could do nothing to reduce the three goal deficit.
Pool 2 Leyton Orient 1. A goal from Kevin Henderson was good enough
to produce another three points for Pool as they got back on track after
the comprehensive defeat at the hands of the Millers. Not a pretty game
of football, but another three points for Pool. That's 12 points from
15 available in October, a very good return. The redevelopment of the
Millhouse Terrace finally began. The work would include replacing existing
terracing and crush bars on the lower half on the stand. On the upper
tier access would be altered. Under the stand new toilet and food buildings
were to be built as part of the £600,000 redevelopment.
Pool 1 Millwall 0. A 12 noon kick off on a Sunday made for a strange
atmosphere in the Vic as Pool set off on the road to Wembley in the FA
Cup. Second division Millwall arrived at the Vic favourites and looked
likely to hold out for a 0-0 draw and take Pool back to The New Den. But
in the final minute of the game a left wing cross was met by Gary Jones
who looped a header over the Lions keeper and into the far corner of the
goal. Only Jonah's second goal of the season, but one which set Pool up
for a live televised second round match at non league Hereford United.
Pool left the month of October sitting in 16th place in the third division,
but having won five out of the six games during the month. Things were
looking up.
The story continues.............November.
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