Porter Secures Point

An early Joel Porter goal put Pools in the driving seat against Barnsley at Victoria Park this afternoon, but Anthony Kay levelled on 35 minutes. The second half brought no further goals and the game ended with both sides relatively happy with a point.


Hartlepool United boss Paul Stephenson handed striker Joel Porter his first start of the season for the visit of promotion chasing Barnsley this afternoon. Porter lined up alongside Adam Boyd the first time Pools first choice strike force have started a game together this season.

Barnsley named two former Poolies in their starting eleven, Chris Shuker started on the right wing and Paul Heckingbottom lined up at left back.

Pools were first on the attack, a long throw in from Adam Boyd was headed over the bar by Adam Boyd. With just nine minutes on the clock Pools were in front, a Ritchie Humphreys corner kick was headed down by Michael Nelson and Joel Porter was in the right place at the right time to hook the ball past Nick Colgan in the Barnsley goal. Porter?s second goal since returning from injury and he?s picked up the form he finished last season in.

On 15 minutes another Pools corner caused problems in the visitors penalty area, this time Michael Nelson rose highest and watched on as his header clipped the cross bar and went behind for the goal kick.

Barnsley?s Matt Carbon became the first player in the referee?s notebook for a foul on Joel Porter. On 35 minutes an Adam Boyd cross was directed goal wards by Chris Llewellyn, unfortunately Colgan pulled off a great save to deny Llewellyn.

Within two minutes Barnsley were level, Paul Heckingbottom floated a cross in from the left wing, Michael Nelson tried the head clear but the ball came through to Anthony Kay who drilled a home with a diving header which Dimitrious Konstantopoulos managed to get a hand on, but he couldn?t stop the ball ended up in the back of the net.

On 41 minutes Richards turned neatly on the edge of the Pools area but he drove his shot wide of the far post. Chris Shuker then almost scored a goal from out wide on the right wing, the little winger floated over a cross which Konstantopoulos had to scramble over the cross bar. Konstantopoulos was forced to clear two further corners before the referee blew up for a push in the area.

Half Time: Hartlepool United 1 Barnsley 1

The second half started with no changes to either side. The opening 10 minutes or so of the second period saw neither side create a clear chance, Pools were now kicking towards the home fans in the Town End stand.

On 58 minutes the hard working Chris Llewellyn cut in from the left wing but with players in the centre waiting for a cross he decided to try his luck with a low drive, Colgan took the ball easily at his front post.

Two minutes later and a neat pass from Joel Porter saw Llewellyn in behind the visitors defence, this time he did cross but the ball was headed off the line and behind for a Pools corner. The set piece was delivered into the box and Adam Boyd stabbed wide from just 6 yards out.

Just after the hour mark Stephen Turnbull tried his luck from fully 30 yards out, but his shot on the run flew wide of the far post. Paul Stephenson made his first substitution as Michael Maidens made way for Matty Robson. This change saw Chris Llewellyn move out to the right wing with Robson taking the left wing.

The 71st minute saw a Barnsley corner headed down inside the Pools penalty area, but Konstantopoulos was down quickly the smother the ball. Paul Stephenson made his second change as the tiring Adam Boyd was replaced with Eifion Williams.

Barnsley looked set to take the lead in the 74th minute, a deep cross from the right wing was smashed towards the Pools goal but Konstantopoulos pulled off an excellent save to tip the ball over the cross bar.

Stephenson made his third and final change on 84 minutes as goal scorer Porter made way for David Foley. In the first minute of injury time Paul Hayes looked to be heading goal wards, Ben Clark put him off with the first challenge then Michael Nelson slide in to claim the ball and clear the danger. A vital tackle from Nelson, if he timed it wrongly the referee would have pointed to the spot, if he didn?t go for it Hayes would have had just Konstantopoulos to beat.

There was still time for another match winning change, on 93 minutes Darren Williams worked his way into the box and drove the ball towards the far post, Eifion Williams slide in and met the cross but he couldn?t direct the ball the right side of the post, agony for the Pools fans!

Just seconds later and the referee brought the game to a close.

Full Time: Hartlepool United 1 Barnsley 1


Hartlepool United
D Konstantopoulos, D Williams, M Nelson, B Clark, R Humphreys, M Maidens (65 M Robson), L Bullock, S Turnbull, C Llewellyn, A Boyd (73 E Williams), J Porter (84 D Foley)

Subs not used: T Davison, M Tinkler


Barnsley
N Colgan, N Austin, M Carbon, P Reid, P Heckingbottom, C Shuker (63 A McParland), S McPhail, B Howard, A Kay, M Richards, T Wright (70 P Hayes)

Subs nut used: S Flinders, N Wroe, R Williams


Referee: G Laws
Attendance: 5122 (757 Barnsley fans)