Report: Pools Up To 8th After Plymouth Win

Hartlepool United moved up to eighth place in League One after a 2-0 win over struggling Plymouth
Report
Report:

That’s 2 wins out of 3. 3 was the target and with the nearest rival up next – the dream could still yet be alive; even if it is clutching on to a narrow piece of string. The P word could still yet be allowed to be muttered, and with a numerical advantage in the number of home games left in the remaining 10 games, Mick Wadsworth continues to elicit the very best talent, heart and determination out of a side written out by almost everyone as the curtain drew open on August 7th.

He revealed after the game that he drilled into his players that the performance wasn’t important, but the win was. Well, if that display didn’t matter than I am certainly not apprehensive of future performances, as the game was a joy to watch. A stark contrast to the drab on Tuesday gone. Antony Sweeney miraculously recovered from a horror tackle on Tuesday and took his place in a more home-comforting central midfield alongside Gary Liddle. Paul Murray rested to the bench. James Brown was restored back to the eleven alongside Ryan Donaldson.

The game had a pacy and attackive start to the action, Rory Fallon – a constant menace – beating the defence and fooling Scott Flinders as Flinders could only parry away a straight forward effort. Evan Horwood and Andy Monkhouse renwewed acquaintances down the left and the founder delivered a superb ball into the box early on but no one was positioned in the ball’s flight and the glorious chance went begging.

But Monkhouse was so nearly the engineer of the opening goal. He filleted the Plymouth defence with an elegant through ball that switched the left for the right and Leon McSweeney’s timely run latched onto the promising move but McSweeney took the ball out wide and his cross as per usual failed to beat his first man. The fast flowing tempo of the game soon got it’s reward though. After Brown had held up the ball adjacent to the dugout he teed off Ryan Donaldson who snaked past his markers before swiping in a driven pass across goal and Antony Sweeney’s unmarked run concluded the brilliant move by tapping in his 13th of the season and his 50th in Pools colours.

The game continued to be a great spectacle, Yannick Bolasie drove a fierce free kick towards Flinders in the home goal and Flinders had to be on guard pushing over the dangerous set-piece. Andy Monkhouse pressurised Larrieu into a simple save from a header and moments later Sam Collins headed wide in a lone position from a Leon McSweeney corner.

Plymouth for all their financial worries played with no fear and demonstrated that sometimes the league table doesn’t tell a true story. They examined the skill that Scott Flinders had at his disposal and he was called into some crucial saves throughout the game. Fallon was nuisance in a varieton of ways, his aerial prowess beating Collins a few times and his defensive upsetting antics proving annoying.

James Brown was declined a goal from Larrieu as this attacking display was dissecting the Plymouth defence frequently. The half time whistle blow on what was a very positive 45 minutes.

HT: Hartlepool United 1-0 Plymouth Argyle

The second half too didn’t disappoint, removing the painful memories of the Carlilse defeat. The Pilgrims entered the second period bouyed by their half time team talk and they did their best at putting Pools on the back foot.

Joe Mason looked a quality player for the visitors, following the trend that strikers seem to be forced into at the Vic – retreating back up field to take possession of the ball. Flinders declined Bolasie a goal once again as his close range effort could only meet Flinders’ glove. Peter Hartley and Sam Collins were inexorable against the Pilgrims attack, and both were composed deflecting away the threat posed by Rory Fallon. Hartley was victorious constantly when he was confronted with an aerial challenge; although he did waste at least four chances at the other end.

The first of which was headed over the bar after a Horwood corner. A good passing move saw McSweeney (who had another ‘iffy’ game – good one minute, awful the next) tee up the on-running Sweeney but Zebar committed to the grounds aid – sliding to prevent a shot. Another exquisite free kick was swung into a congested box this time from McSweeney and Peter Hartley met the perfectly weighted cross, heading across goal and his defensive partner Sam Collins fighted furiously with the defender to get the final touch and his defly toe poke doubled Pools’ frail lead.

It was the perfect way to puncture Plymouth’s charge for a point. Except it didn’t.

They continued to strive up field but too often couldn’t force a way past a resolute defence. Haslam was brilliant in his defensive duties, Hartley and Collins as before mentioned were little short of immense – and Horwood kept the wing threat silent. A certain goal was denied when Collins again through his body in the way to deny the visitors halving the deficit.

Gary Liddle was employed in Paul Murray’s position and as usual he showed just why he is supposedly attracting the attention of his former club Middlesbrough. He wasn’t quite the human barricade that Murray poses, but he halted any flowing move that Plymouth chucked at him, and he was the prime example of a box to box midfield. He compensated Murray’s loss efficiently with another rigid, applaudable display.

Fabian Yantorno was introduced and his touch resembled a player who had been left out in the cold in recent months. However his elephant-like touch nearly provided Pools with a goal. The ball found its way from the right to the left after the ball was interchanged between 3 players, and when Yantorno lost possession, Pools retrieved it. Monkhouse to the over lapping Horwood, Horwood to the edge of the box to Sweeney who played through McSweeney, but his skimming effort didn’t find the net.

Colin Larkin had a chance to grab his first goal since last September, but his cursed foot denied him once more. He found himself one on one and with the keeper hurrying out succumbing to the ground early, Larkin had time to dink the ball over Larrieu but he rushed his effort and Larrieu deflected the ball away. Larkin stared up at the heavens in almost disbelief. When will he score. *Will he ever score.

Antony Sweeney took of the gloss of the victory as he hobbled to the centre circle before being stretched off to a standing ovation. His injury extent remains unknown. Overall though a brilliant win, in an absorbing game.

The P word may just be starting to be whispered under the breath.

FT: Hartlepool United 2-0 Plymouth Argyle