Report: Pools 1 Lincoln 1

An injury time Richie Barker penalty kept Pools unbeaten run intact tonight as Danny Wilson’s side drew 1-1 with Lincoln City at Victoria Park.

Hartlepool United boss Danny Wilson named an unchanged side from the one which beat Hereford 3-2 at Victoria Park last Saturday for Friday night’s visit of John Schofield’s promotion chasing Lincoln City. Still no sign of Willie Boland who now hasn’t played since 6th January.

With a bumper crowd inside the Vic Pools started the game kicking towards the vocal Lincoln fans in the Rink End stand.

With just three minutes on the clock Ritchie Humphreys lined up his first free kick of the night, the Pools left back curled a shot into the welcoming arms of Alan Marriott. Three minutes later and Andy Monkhouse did well to get to the goal line, he pulled the ball back to the penalty spot but it was hacked clear by the visitors defence.

Lincoln took the lead on 7 minutes, a right wing cross was headed out to the feet of Paul Green who hit a low shot into the bottom right corner of the Pools goal, the effort did take a slight deflection but it was still a neat finish.

The visitors had started the game brightly and were closing Pools down and attacking dangerously. On 17 minutes Ryan Amoo became the first player in the referee’s notebook for a late foul on Tony Sweeney.

Two minutes later and Pools won a corner kick, the set piece was cleared out of the box and Micky Barron’s return cross was well take by Alan Marriott.

Just before the half hour mark Andy Monkhouse tried his luck from range but Marriott was equal to the effort. On 37 minutes a poor pass by Michael Nelson saw Pools in trouble, thankfully Nelson was able to correct his original error by cutting out a cross for a Lincoln corner, Konstantopoulos collected the set piece easily.

Danny Wilson was forced into a change as Tony Sweeney left the pitch injured on 42 minutes, Lee Bullock took his place in the centre of midfield.

Half Time: Hartlepool United 0 Lincoln City 1

The second half started with no personnel changes for either side although Eifion Williams and James Brown had changed positions with Brown trying his luck alongside Richie Barker.

10 minutes after the restart and Pools had their best chance of the game so far, a neat flick by Richie Barker saw James Brown in on the left wing, young Brown tried to put the ball into the far corner of the net but it was a yard wide of the far post, Eifion Williams arrived at the back post seconds later, a cross to Williams would have been the better option.

Pools continued to press but Ritchie Humphreys put a 58th minute free kick well over the Lincoln cross bar. Danny Wilson made his second change of the game as Eifion Williams made way for David Foley.

On 72 minutes a lovely cross by Michael Barron was headed inches wide of the far post by Barker. 5 minutes later and Barron found his way into the referee’s notebook for a high challenge.

With just over ten minutes of the game remaining Danny Wilson made his final change as Ali Gibb replaced Andy Monkhouse. Gibb’s introduction almost paid immediate dividends as he swung in a delicious cross from the right wing, again Barker got up well but this time his effort was blocked on the goal line, Gary Liddle followed up with a powerful shot which was blocked by the towering Nat Brown.

Lincoln could have wrapped up the three points a minute later, Jamie Forrester chipped the ball over Michael Nelson and then lobbed it over Konstantopoulos, thankfully for Pools his effort hit the top of the cross bar and went behind for a goal kick.

With just four minutes remaining Lee Bullock saw a good header from a Ritchie Humphreys corner cleared on the goal line, the ball was right on the line but the linesman waved play on. By now Pools were camped in the Lincoln half with Michael Nelson playing alongside Barker, Brown and Foley in a four pronged attack.

The fourth official signaled for four minutes of injury time and the Victoria Park crowd roared Wilson’s side on. A minute into the added time and Pools were given a lifeline, the ball struck the arm of Nat Brown just inside the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. I’ve got to admit I didn’t have a very good view of the incident, but the referee was just a couple of yards away and there didn’t seem too many objections from the Lincoln players.

A couple of Lincoln players tried to put Richie Barker off by chatting to him and walking up to the ball, the referee asked the experienced striker to replace the ball as it wasn’t on the centre of the penalty spot, after a 90 second delay Barker strode up and slammed the ball past Alan Marriott, cue mass celebration.

Pools poured forward after the restart and with 51 minutes on the second half clock Lee Bullock rammed the ball home from 12 yards out, but the referee had already blew for an infringement and the goal was chalked off.

After 6 minutes of injury time the game was brought to a close.

Full Time: Hartlepool United 1 Lincoln City 1

All in all a decent result, Lincoln were probably the best side I’ve seen at the Vic this season and they really made Pools work for the point. I think Pools were good value for the draw but it could have so easily been a defeat. Once again Danny Wilson’s side show the ‘Never Say Die’ attitude and we are one more point closer to automatic promotion.

Hartlepool United:
Konstantopoulos, Barron, Nelson, Clark, Humphreys, Brown, Sweeney (Bullock 42), Liddle, Monkhouse (Gibb 80), Barker, Eifion Williams (Foley 69).
Subs Not Used: Provett, Tinkler.

Lincoln City:
Marriott, Eaden, Moses, Brown, Green, Amoo, Frecklington (Mayo 88), Kerr, Hughes, N’Guessan, Forrester (Warlow 90).
Subs Not Used: Olejnik, King, Ryan.

Attendance: 6,903 (436 Lincoln fans)
Referee: R Shoebridge (Derbyshire)