Report: Pools 1 Posh 0

A goal bang on 90 minutes from on loan Darryl Duffy was enough to rewrite the Hartlepool United record books this afternoon, that’s seven games without conceding a goal and EIGHT consecutive league wins!

Hartlepool United boss Danny Wilson was forced into a change to his starting line up for this afternoon’s home game with Peterborough United. Michael Nelson suffered medial knee ligament damage in the win over Grimsby so was forced to sit this one out, Garry Liddle took his place alongside Ben Clark in the centre of the Pools defence. Tony Sweeney partnered Willie Boland in the centre of midfield with Eifion Williams on the right wing and James Brown starting alongside Darryl Duffy in attack.

After heavy overnight rain the game started in calm and dry conditions, but it wasn’t long before the rain started to fall. Just three minutes into the game Eifion Williams saw a shot blocked, Darryl Duffy couldn’t control the rebound and the ball was put behind for Pools first corner of the game. Willie Boland’s corner kick was well dealt with by the Posh defence. Two minutes later and Andy Monkhouse cut in from the left wing and drove high over the angle of the Peterborough goal.

On 14 minutes Danny Crow beat the Pools offside trap but Dimitrious Konstantopoulos came out quickly to twart the striker. Just 60 seconds later and Mclean was put through but again Konstantopoulos was off his line quickly to slide in and take the ball, Mclean tried to force it out of Dimi’s grasp and received a yellow card for his efforts.

19 minutes saw Tony Sweeney with a chance but Rachubka made himself big to block the midfield’s attempt to slot home. A bright start to the game from both sides with the visitors looking dangerous through the pace of their two strikers.

In the 25th minute James Brown set off on a mazy run towards Rachubka’s goal, but the Posh keeper did well to take the young strikers effort. Darryl Duffy was the next player to test the Peterborough defence in the 37th minute, his first shot was blocked with the rebound being put behind for a Pools corner kick.

On the stroke of half time Danny Crow again beat the offside trap but his shot across goal was well taken by Konstantopoulos. After just a minute of added time the referee brought the first half to a close.

Half Time: Hartlepool United 0 Peterborough United 0

The second half started with no changes to either side, the Posh won a corner kick in the opening minutes but Futcher’s header flew into the visiting 182 Posh fans in the Rink End stand.

Darryl Duffy saw a good shot pushed wide in the 52nd minute as the loan range looked to get his name on the score sheet for the fifth time since his move from the KC Stadium. 12 minutes into the second half and Pools were starting to get a firm grip on the game, the commanding Willie Boland drove over the cross bar.

In the 69th minute a cross shot from James Brown was firmly headed just a couple of inches wide by Andy Monkhouse. Danny Wilson made his first change of the game on 78 minutes as James Brown was replaced by Lee Bullock. With no further chances of note Wilson made a second change on 85 minutes as David Foley replaced Eifion Williams.

The second change did the trick as Pools drove at the visitors with Foley frightening the life out of big Guy Branston. In the 86th minute a good effort from Tony Sweeney was pushed just over the bar by Rachubka, the Peterborough defence hacked Willie Boland’s corner clear.

In the final minute of normal time Pools finally got the break through. Foley ran out Branston and pushed the ball past the big central defender who had no answer to the youngsters pace, Foley’s shot was blocked by Rachubka but Darryl Duffy managed to get his body between the keeper and the loose ball and he flicked it over the line for a dramatic winner.

Two minutes in to the additional three minutes shown by the fourth official and Duffy had beaten the last defender and slotted the ball home, however the linesman’s flag was raised for offside. In the last minute of additional time Foley could have added a second himself but put a decent drive just inches wide of the far post.

Full Time: Hartlepool United 1 Peterborough United 0

Another superb win for Pools, scoring in the final minute of normal time just makes it all the more sweeter. Eight wins in a row and seven clean sheets, awesome statistics, congratulations to Danny Wilson and his players. Next up is a tricky looking away game with Mansfield Town, Pools record run of clean sheets will be put to the test by a player we’ve been rumoured to be trying to bring to the Vic for some months now, Mr Richie Barker.


Hartlepool United: Konstantopoulos, Barron, Liddle, Clark, Humphreys, Brown (Bullock 78), Boland, Sweeney, Monkhouse, Duffy, Eifion Williams (Foley 86).
Subs Not Used: Provett, Darren Williams, Gibb.

Peterborough United: Rachubka, Futcher, Morgan, Branston, Newton, Huke (Stirling 73), Butcher, Arber (Benjamin 90), Mclean, Yeo, Crow.
Subs Not Used: Day, Holden, Fry.

Attendance: 4,654 (182 Posh fans)
Referee: A Bates (Staffordshire).