Pools picked up their first win of the season at home to Doncaster Rovers
Teams
Report
Danny Wilson made one change to the team that beat Scunthorpe on Tuesday night. Robbie Elliott returned to the starting line replacing Antony Sweeney. Pools also returned to a 4-4-2 formation. Two former Poolies lined up for Donny, Martin Woods and James Coppinger both returned to Victoria Park.
The opening minutes saw both sides trying size each other up, both teams tried to play a passing game but Doncaster were surprisingly sloppy with the ball in the middle of the park, often gifting the ball to Pools but each attack came to nothing.
Pools were the better side in the first half as Doncaster looked happy to play on the break and Pools won their first corner after midway through the first half. Robbie Elliott put in a poor cross and the danger was easily dealt with.
Pools had several more corners in the first half all of which were easily handled by the Donny defence. Robbie Elliott would constantly find the keeper from every single set piece.
Matty Robson went on a good run down the left wing and broke into the box, unfortunately he shot with his right foot and Neil Sullivan collected easily.
Pools took the lead on 42 minutes when a Jamie McCunnie cross was met by Godwin Antwi in the middle. The big defender was completely unmarked and headed home at the back post.
Pools had looked the better side in the first half but Doncaster were far from out of the game
HT: Hartlepool 1-0 Doncaster
Doncaster came out fighting in the second half and looked more attacking minded in the early parts of the second half. The Doncaster right was the main threat for the away side as they exploited the poor Elliott at left back.
Ian Moore and Richie Barker were working hard up front but didn’t have a chance between them. Moore did have a good flick on at the edge of the box which created a chance for Pools.
Jan Budtz made a complete howler in the second half. The big Dane dropped a corner from the right but the Pools defence hacked the ball away eventually.
Doncaster equalised on 71 minutes when James Coppinger whipped a great ball across the six yard box and James Hayter put the ball in the back of the net. It was Doncaster’s only real clear cut chance despite their attacking team in the second half.
The Pools team didn’t let their heads go down this weekend and were back level on 81 minutes when James Brown was brought down in the box. Pools had a similar penalty shout in the first half which wasn’t given but this time the ref pointed to the spot.
Richie Barker smashed the ball home to give Pools the lead even though they had posed no great threat in the second half other than a couple of shots from the lively Joel Porter.
The referee was booking players for everything and Robbie Elliott was dismissed on 84 minutes. Elliott brought down a player right on the edge of the box and the linesman flagged. This capped and awful display from the former Newcastle defender.
Pools held out for the rest of the match and collected their first 3 points of the season.
Comment
Pools and Doncaster were well matched today but Pools had the slight edge. Up front we tried and ran all day but never looked like scoring. The midfield was solid and Boland put in another good performance.
Matty Robson was impressive on the left wing and played only one bad ball all game. He was far superior to Robbie Elliott on the left. Elliott was the weak link in defence, he left a huge hole on the wing as he drifted towards the central defenders and nearly all of Donny’s chances came down this side.
Jan Budtz was all over the place in goal but the rest of the defence was solid. Godwin Antwi was the best player on the park but hobbled off with an injury in the second half.
The ref was absolutely dreadful, he booked everyone and gave a string of bad decisions for both sides. The linesmen were both 5 yards off the pace too.
MOM: Godwin Antwi
Teams
Pools: Budtz, McCunnie, Antwi (Clark), Nelson, Elliott, Robson, Liddle, Boland, Brown, Moore (Porter), Barker
Subs: Humphreys, Sweeney, Foley
Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan, Wellens, Lockwood, Heffernan (McCammon), Wilson (McDaid), Greer, Coppinger, O’Connor, Roberts (Guy), Woods, Hayter
Subs:Green, Hird
