Robson Strike Wins Game

Matty Robson scored the only goal of a exciting encounter at Victoria Park tonight as Hartlepool United Football Club regained it’s smile.

Pools caretaker manager Paul Stephenson made several changes to the side which drew 0-0 away at Rotherham last weekend for tonight?s home game against inform play off chasing Chesterfield.

Stephenson handed a start to fit again striker Adam Boyd with David Foley and Chris Llewellyn playing alongside him in a three man attack. Michael Nelson stepped into the centre of defence alongside Ben Clark which meant Mark Tinkler was moved into the midfield alongside Tony Sweeney and Stephen Turnbull. Club captain Michael Barron took a place on the subs bench alongside Jon Day, Darrell Clarke, Matty Robson and Jim Provett.

The game kicked off in cold but calm conditions inside Victoria Park, Pools lost the toss so started the game kicking towards the home fans in the Town End stand. I?ve got to admit it took me the first five minutes of the game to work out what formation Paul Stephenson had chosen for his side, the three strikers seemed to be taking it in turns to drop ?in the hole?, at first David Foley appeared to be playing behind the front two, but then he would swap with Chris Llewellyn.

Chesterfield started the brighter of the two sides with a corner in only the second minute, Dimitrious Konstantopoulos claimed well. In the eight minute Tony Sweeney saw a sweet shot pushed wide by Barry Roche resulting in Pools first corner of the game, Ritchie Humphreys floated the set piece into the box but the visitors defence dealt with the danger, however the clearing header only fell to Chris Llewellyn who saw his volley hit the outside of the post.

Just after the quarter of an hour mark another Humphreys corner was this time met by the head of Michael Nelson, the big central defender rose unchanged but his header flew high over the cross bar.

On 20 minutes a Pools free kick from the left wing was headed down by Ben Clark, his central defensive partner Michael Nelson again found himself with the ball inside the 18 yard box, this time Nels volleyed just wide, in fact the ball may have clipped the post on its way behind for a goal kick. Its sods law that your two best chances of a game fall to a central defender!

Chesterfield were forced into an early substitution as the injured Gareth Davies was replaced by the Alan O’Hare. As the half wore on Pools continued to probe for an opening, another Ritchie Humphreys corner kick in the 40th minute was hacked clear by the visitors defence.

The fourth official signalled for two minutes of injury time during which Tony Sweeney got his angles all wrong and drove a shot over the Town End stand and out of the ground. A bright first half for Pools but all our chances came from set pieces.

The second half started with Chesterfield taking control of the game straight from the whistle. On loan Jamie O?Hara danced through the Pools defence on 51 minutes but his shot was straight into the body of Konstantopoulos. Chesterfield made a second change as the Wayne ?The Chief? Allison came on to replace Reuben Hazell in the 54th minute.

On 56 minutes Chesterfield had their best chance of the game so far, Caleb Folan worked his way into the Pools box and sent a shot towards the far corner of the net, from my angle Folan?s effort had goal written all over it, thankfully it whistled past the up right and behind for a goal kick.

Paul Stephenson made his first change of the game as Jon Daly replaced David Foley, not longer after Stephenson made another switch as Mark Tinkler was replaced by Matty Robson.

Now Robson has come in for some stick on the Victoria Park terraces so it?s time to give credit were credit is due. The young winger just about turned this game around single handily, playing his favoured left wing role has seen Robson show his true potential in Stephenson first two games in charge.

Ben Clark picked up a booking just after the hour mark for a block on the half way line, then Matty Robson stole the headlines. After collecting the ball just inside the Chesterfield half the youngster set off for goal, with the Chesterfield defence on the back foot he kept the ball close to his body, after turning two defenders inside out Robson drove a shot across the keeper and into the far corner of the net. Victoria Park erupted, it?s been a while since we?ve had a goal to cheer, the last being Gavin Strachan?s 35 yard free kick against Swindon on the 2nd of January.

So would the goal see Chesterfield fold? Not a chance, Roy McFarland?s side were straight on the attack and made Pools work all the way to the final whistle.

Paul Stephenson made his final substitution as Darrell Clarke replaced Tony Sweeney. On 71 minutes Ritchie Humphreys made a block which was just as important as Robson?s earlier strike, with the ball flying towards the Pools goal skipper Humphreys flung his body in and managed to block the effort with his knee. For a few seconds it looked like he?d been hurt, but he was soon back to his feet and ready to face the resulting corner kick.

10 minutes remaining and Konstantopolous pulled out a reaction save with his legs and then two minutes later the Pools keeper did well to take a volley which was driven goal wards.

As Chesterfield pushed forward Pools started to find a few gaps in the visitors defence. The 88th minute saw another Robson drive just pushed wide and in injury time Adam Boyd saw Roche get a hand to his poked shot and the ball trickled just wide.

After three minutes of injury time the referee brought the game to a close. The Pools fans were elated; the players embraced each other, poor Adam Boyd lay exhausted on the halfway line! A battling display and a well earned three points.

As I said in the introduction to this match report, the smile is back on Hartlepool United Football Club.

Hartlepool United 1 Chesterfield 0



Hartlepool
D Konstantopoulos, D Williams, M Nelson, B Clark, R Humphreys, A Sweeney (69 D Clarke), M Tinkler (60 M Robson), S Turnbull, D Foley (58 J Daly), A Boyd, C Llewellyn

Subs not used: J Provett, M Barron

Chesterfield
B Roche, G Davies (24 A O’Hare), R Hazell (54 W Allison), A Downes, P Picken, P Hall, D Niven, M Allott, K Hurst, J O’Hara (78 C Larkin), C Folan

Subs not used: C Muggleton, C Heath

Referee: G Sutton
Attendance: 4596 (317 Chesterfield fans)