Stacy Coldicott returned to the Town team in midfield. John Thorrington dropped to the bench with Stuart Campbell moving out wide. Iain Anderson failed to pass a late fitness test but with Mikele Antoine-Curier on the bench, Graham Hockless failed to make the 16. Bloody great!
The gale force winds had a major affect on the game and resulted in the first five rows of the Main Stand being ruled unsafe. The advertising on the roof of the 900-year-old stand came loose in the wind and safety officers feared it could have fallen off.
Major shareholder John Fenty had earlier climed a ladder to secure a speaker after that became loose. Bravo Fenty. He’s a hands on man said Peter Furneaux. The Town chairman also added that the whole board are. Hmmm, can you see Furneaux up a ladder in a gale? Thought not.
Onto the (mis)match, sadly. Now the idea in strong winds is surely to play the ball on the floor with short and controlled passes, yeah? Nooooo, not the Town way. From kick-off Town tried to lump it high and long to the giant pairing of Jevons and Rowan. The ball rarely went near the strike pairing, the long punts usually blew into touch.
Hartlepool on the other hand had two little things called tactics and organisation, helpful things they are.
Despite looking crap all game, Town started the better - amazing really. Barnard and Bolder combined well on a few occasions down the left, the Welsh international put good crosses into the box but neither Jevons or Rowan were aware enough to capitilase.
As per usual, Coldicott was dominant in midfield. However Bolder and Campbell on either side were mostly ineffective. A creative drive forwards was badly missing.
Hartlepool began to threaten, first of all from Blackburn loanne Neil Danns who headed wide after the ball hung for an age in the wind.
On 29 minutes Town shot themselves in the foot, just for a change. Bolder tried too much in midfield and was soon caught out. The release ball found Adam Boyd. With Edwards out of position and Warhurst caught short, Boyd had a free run on goal. Fettis hesistated on his line and Boyd fired across him into the net despite Greg Young’s attempted goal-line clearance.
Town tried to respond but struggled in the headwind. In fact the only effort of note on goal came from Coldicott. Just inside the box, Stace curled a weak effort into the arms of Proffit. Stace’s job isn’t to score or even create though. His job is to protect the back four and break things down, that’s a job he does so well. Others should take responsibilty for the more attacking play.
For the second half Jason Crowe and Antoine-Curier came on for Edwards and Rowan. It took the Frenchman a good 35 minutes before doing anything worthwhile. Picking the ball up in midfield he turned quickly and showed quick feet to skip past a defender. In a Mansaram like style he ran into the next defender before falling to the floor.
Town’s only hope of a goal was with Jevons. With a bigger man up front with him, he was able to drop deeper and began to look a damn sight more effective. Sadly he had no support whatsoever and the ‘Pool defence soon realised and surrounded him on every occasion.
Hartlepool always looked the more likely to score and it was no surprise when Adam Boyd added a second with 3 minutes left. A corner swirled in the box before falling at Boyd’s feet. Fettis dived for some unknown reason, Boyd fired into the empty net. Of course Town’s defence watched.
Another disappointing performance for Town and another deserved defeat. Whilst not wanting to get on Nicky Law’s back, his appointment is proving a bad one. Not so much the appointment of him but rather the decision to replace Graham Rodger, who was getting results needed to keep us safe. In Rodger’s six games we picked up 12 points. Under Law - four games, one point. Hopefully the pending signing of Jamie Lawrence will boost the midfield and add some pace and power. Up front the return and signing of Isaiah Rankin is a must, it really all has gone down since he picked up his injury against Notts County. Oh, and bloody well play Hockless!
Man of the Match - Stacy Coldicott. Hard to pick one out really but Stace never lets you down. Solid in the tackle, simple in the pass and 110 percent every time. Lasted 80 minutes before going off with does give hope that he’s nearing full fitness.