Hartlepool’s Comeback Kids Strike Again: Report

Hartlepool United came from behind to beat Huddersfield Town at Victoria Park
Teams:
Report
You couldn’t write this script. 8 goals full of excitment and finally, a performance to give hope for Kevin Kyle. Hartlepool’s defence were far from convincing in a game Pools seemed content on losing. Everytime Hartlepool got themselves back in contention to win, they gave away a sloppy or easy goal to give a generally poor Huddersfield team the advantage.

Huddersfield took the lead early on when on-loan Derby striker Liam Dickinson stepped up to take a free-kick 25 yards out and his poorly struck shot managed to squeeze through the crowded box and into Arran Lee-Barrett’s bottom right corner.

Hartlepool pushed for an equaliser through Kevin Kyle and Joel Porter’s efforts and Kevin Kyle was rewarded for some influential hold-up play when he scored his first for Pools in the 26th minute with a deserved equaliser.

Glennon parried Jones’ effort straight into the air but Kyle headed the loose ball back over the keeper into the net.

A free-kick midway inside the Huddersfield half was launched hopefully towards Dickinson who won the flick-on for the onrushing unmarked Ian Craney who collected it and planted a shot into Lee-Barrett’s far top corner.

But Huddersfield’s lead lasted just two minutes. Porter curved an inswinging cross into the box from the right and James Brown was on hand to head the ball into the far corner for his second goal in four days.

The goal surge continued as Huddersfield went ahead for the third time in the 44th minute. Kyle gave away a needless free-kick 25 yards out and Liam Dickinson once again stepped up to curve a beauty into the far top corner.

HT: Hartlepool 2 Hudderfield 3

Pools wasted a golden opportunity in the 58th minute when Tony Sweeney managed to keep in Ritchie Jones’ sweeping ball to the right by half-volleying a ball across the face of the goal but no-one in a white shirt gambled and the ball rolled agonisingly across the six-yard box.

Steve Jones could have put the game beyond Pools in the 67th minute after the home side’s suicidal defending was once again exposed. Dickinson’s flick 30 yards from goal fooled the whole of the Pools back line and left Jones time and space to pick his spot.

Jones tried to curl a shot around Lee-Barrett but the effort lacked power and was comfortably plucked out of the air by the Pools stopper.

Pools were handed a lifeline from the spot with eight minutes to go after Huddersfield left-back Joe Skarz was adjudged to have fouled Sweeney in the air by the linesman. Joel Porter stepped up and smashed the penalty into the roof of the net.

But Pools weren’t done and with five minutes left on the clock Robson sent in a soaring cross from the left and Kevin Kyle arrived at the back post to head the ball into the top corner.

Pools’ scoring wasn’t over and they sealed the points with 60 seconds of normal time to go. Robson’s through ball on the counter-attack left the Terriers defence trailing and Joel Porter was left with just the keeper to beat 40 yards out. Porter took it around Glennon and knocked the ball into the empty net.

There was still time for Huddersfield to hit the post when Pools failed to deal with yet another Dickinson free-kick.

FT: Hartlepool 5 Huddersfield 3

Comment
Pools were good going forward but a real shambles at the back. Kevin Kyle performed to the standard expected and seemed to give something Richard Barker didn’t have.

Kyle attacks with a bit of pace and also uses great strength to create attacks. Danny Wilson must do something with his leaky defence though because on many occasions Nelson and Collins were guilty of being maybe lacking in confidence. Monkhouse was poor and the introduction of Robson instilled a bit more urgency into the team.

James Brown seems to be quieter in his new role of winger. Maybe this is killing all the early potential he had?

MOM: Kevin Kyle – Just sublime

Teams:
Pools: Lee-Barrett, Sweeney (Liddle 88), Nelson, Collins, Humphreys, Brown, Jones, Clark, Monkhouse (Robson 73), Kyle, Porter. Subs not used: McCunnie, Foley, Mackay. Booked: Monkhouse (12), Kyle (45), Clark (51)

Huddersfield: Glennon, Skarz (Williams 90), Craney, Clarke, Worthington (Holdsworth 62), Flynn, Goodwin, Roberts, Butler, Jones, Dickinson. Subs not used: Collins, Jevons, Lucketti. Booked: Craney (64), Dickinson (75)

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Stockport) – was absolutely shocking!