Hartlepool United 2009/10 Season Review (Part 2)

For the next two weeks Vital Hartlepool will be running an exclusive review of last season, and we will be reliving the great moments, the not so great moments, and the headlines.

We will review every month in depth, looking back on every game and also revisiting the stories that caught attention back then.

In today’s second part episode, we look back at the month of September. After a poor start to the season, Pools looked to hit the ground running with a few winnable games.

After a decent footballing start to the campaign, Pools were sitting in the bottom four. However, there was no real cause for concern as Pools had shown the potential to reach the expected finish of mid-table.

September:

Away Record Intact, Home Form Stutters Again:

Oldham 0-3 Hartlepool United

Hartlepool started the month away at Oldham on a cold Friday evening. With the away form looking good, and a goal still unconceded, Pools went into the match full of confidence. And that confidence was evident throughout ninety minutes.

James Brown struck a beauty into the top corner to put Pools ahead, and Leon McSweeney nodding Pools’ second and his first for Pools just before the interval.

Oldham took the game to Pools in the second half, but were halted by the string defence.
Denis Behan then unleashed in my eyes the Goal of the Season goal. He stepped back, charged onto the ball, and whacked a 30 yard free-kick straight into the net, almost breaking the netting!

Man Of The Match: James Brown

Hartlepool United 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers

Pools returned to the Vic with the ambition of recording their first win on home turf – but sadly they didn’t live up to that. A first half in which Pools fired everything at the visitors goal saw no results, but the second half saw a different Pools side.

A negative manner resulted in Wycombe taking the lead, but Adam Boyd was dispatched with twenty minutes left, and earned Pools a point with a volley. A poor display overall, against a side that was later relegated. Talk about missed chances.

Man Of The Match: Adam Boyd

Paying The Penalty


Colchester 2-0 Hartlepool United

Aidy Boothroyd got off to a flying start as Colchester boss, and ended Hartlepool’s away clean sheet record, and in the process demolished the unbeaten record. However, Pools only had themselves to blame.

They didn’t threaten much throughout, but conceded a ridiculous THREE penalties, two were converted. Two penalties were dubious, but Scott Flinders couldn’t match the heroics of saving the first spot kick.

Adam Boyd was denied in the final minutes, but Pools came up too short, and in turn paid the penalty.

Man Of The Match: Scott Flinders

Belief Earns Pools Four Points

Report: Hartlepool United 3-0 Walsall

Hartlepool finally won at the Vic, masterminded by the excellent display of returning Ritchie Humphreys. Humphreys was instrumental throughout and was pivotal in the opening goal. Slick passing with Behan and Monkhouse, saw Ritchie slide the ball into the path of Monkhouse who slotted home the opener.

It was a brilliant performance by Pools, who had Walsall on the edge all game, and the Saddlers keeper was hard at work. Denis Behan nearly doubled the score line minutes after the interval, but Monkhouse did after the ball scrambled around the box after a corner.

Walsall came into the game eventually, and Darren Byfield followed by Rhys Weston both had chances for the West Midlands side. But they failed to convert those chances, and Colin Larkin wrapped things up with a beautifully taken chip.

Man Of The Match: Ritchie Humphreys


Stockport County 2-2 Hartlepool United

Money troubled Stockport were the next up for Pools, and character saw Pools earn a 2-2 draw, coming back from two goals down. A Michael Rose cross was met by Nicholas Bignall who put the hosts in front.

Michael Raynes made it two minutes later with another header beating Scott Flinders. Andy Monkhouse went close to halving the deficit, but Stockport were on top going into half time.

Adam Boyd responded to the half time talk, by making it 2-1, and then after 30 minutes of pressing Hartlepool scored the deserved equaliser through Denis Behan. Great character by Pools, saw them claw their way back, and kick start their away from once more.

Hartlepool United ended the month with a new signing on the books. French Giant Julian Cherel put pen to paper after a successful trial. With his only football being applied in the lower French Leagues, Turner took a gamble, but he clearly saw something in the man mountain.

Man Of The Match: Denis Behan

Monthly Review Comment:

A mixed month with mixed awards, but it was a step in the right direction. Denis Behan continued to cause real danger, whilst Adam Boyd started to show his talent once more.

The results had been different, a great result at Oldham was followed by a first home win vs Walsall, and character was obvious in the comeback against Stockport. However, the cause for concern was the inability to convert chances into goals. Too many times had Pools had goal scoring chances wasted, and this had to be addressed.

Man Of The Month: Adam Boyd

The striker played a key role in the month, snatching a point against Wycombe and setting Pools on their way to a draw vs Stockport. His glimpses of skill made a steady return to the scene, and his eye for goal was getting sharper game by game.

Game Of The Month: Hartlepool 3-0 Wycombe

Goal Of The Month: Denis Behan’s amazing thirty yard bullet against Oldham.
League Table as of 29/09/09

Pos Team Pld W D L GD Pts
10 Brentford 10 3 4 3 -2 13
11 Walsall 10 3 4 3 -3 13
12 Hartlepool 10 3 3 4 0 12
13 Gillingham 9 3 2 4 3 11
14 Southend 10 2 5 3 1 11

Tomorrow we will be back glancing in detail at the month of October.