Hartlepool United through on penalties

By Albatross
August 14 2003

Hartlepool United made it past the first round of the newly-renamed Carling Cup for the first time in more than four years with a Penalties victory over Sheffield Wednesday. "Turner Out" sang the victorious Poolies, after a great night at Hillsborough.

There were a couple of changes to the side that beat Peterborough; Mark Tinkler returned in place of Paul Arnison, who was suffering from an infected blister, and Jim Provett came in to replace Taff in goal. Something of a surprise decision by Cooper, and one that had plenty of us talking - but as the game was to prove, not one that Cooper will regret! Westwood started off playing right back as Pools went for 4-4-2. For Wednesday, former Poolies Graeme Lee and Brian Barry-Murphy started the game, with Paul Smith on the bench.

The game started with Sheffield Wednesday attacking towards the 1000+ Hartlepool fans, and it didn't take long for them to start putting the Pools defence under pressure. Barry-Murphy shot over, and Provett dealt well with a couple of crosses; and although Wednesday had plenty of posession the Pools defence was looking solid and well organised. Pools were getting forward occasionally, and Darrell Clarke did well to get the ball to Eifion on the edge of the box; it looked like the Pools forward was chopped down, but nothing was given and play continued. A few minutes later Pools won a corner, but the cross from Robson was comfortably claimed by Tidman.

The first real clear cut chance fell to the Owls on 18 minutes. Some good approach play saw Kuqi played in, but Provett did well to narrow the angle and stand up, managing to tip the ball away for a corner. From the corner Smith had a header on target, but it was straight at Provett and the young Pools keeper took it with ease.

Provett was definately much the busier keeper, and on 23 minutes he made another comfortable save, this time from a header from Kuqi. He wasn't showing any nerves, and in front of him the defence was adopting a "none shall pass" attitude, with Westwood in particular looking outstanding. Although some crosses were finding their targets, the Wendy attackers were often under pressure and Provett was dealing fairly comfortably with anything on target.

Mark Tinkler was starting to struggle though, possibly not as fit as he thought, and on 31 minutes he was replaced by Mickey Barron. Barron took up position on the right hand side as Clarke moved into the middle alongside the hard-working Strachan and Humphreys, and Westwood moved into the centre as we switched to 5-3-2. Just a couple of minutes later it was Clarke who had Pools best chance of the half; his shot from the left hand side of the area was cleared off the line by Wood. Provett was soon in action again though, when a somewhat strange decision saw Wednesday given a free kick on the Pools left; the ball was curled in to the near post, Provett getting across well to put the ball behind.

Half time arrived, leaving me to reflect that although Pools had been under pressure for most of the game they were holding their shape well and looking comfortable at the back. The trio of Jordan, Nelson and Westwood was doing everything right, and Westie in particular had been outstanding. Provett had done all that could be expected of him, and the whole team was working hard to close down the opposition.

Pools started the second half the brighter, with Matty Robson getting a cross in and then Humphreys trying a long range effort that went wide; but it was the Sheffield side that went into the lead on 49 minutes thanks to a set piece. Jordan was penalised for a foul on the Wednesday right; Quinn swung the ball over, and there at the back stick - inevitably - was Graeme Lee to head home. Spike's reception from the travelling Poolies was, let's say, not exactly great when he got back down to our end.

Pools went looking for the equaliser, and a good run from Humphreys lead to another long-range effort that this time went over. The equaliser though was to come from the penalty spot; some good work sent Eifion Williams away on the right hand side of the box, and Tidman took him out. A clear penalty, and Tidman can consider himself a little lucky to have got away with a yellow card, with Eifion requiring a couple of minutes treatment. Paul Robinson had put the ball on the spot, and after the delay he powered the penalty home, just beating Tidman who got a hand to it but couldn't prevent it from hitting the net.

Kuqi was causing a few problems, and tested Provett again on 57 minutes; his shot though was well held by the young Pools stopper.

There was still a lot of Wednesday pressure, but Pools were coming into it more; Westwood in particular was doing a great job, and seemd to be everywhere at once in the Pools defence, making tackles, closing people down, and making a few interceptions as well. Wednesday just couldn't break the Pools defence down, and their best hope looked to be from a set piece - on 62 minutes they tried the same routine that had lead to the opening goal, but this time Lee found himself under more pressure and could only head wide.

Steven Istead came on for Eifion on 70 minutes, as Cooper looked to introduce some fresh legs. Wednesday though were still looking threatening, and Provett had to show his mettle again a few minutes later when he made a good reaction save from a Kuqi header, and then again when Westwood was (for the only time of the night) beaten in the tackle by Kuqi: Provett made a great save to parry the ball away, and then got back on his feet quickly to collect the ball when it was played back across.

Pools were attacking more as well, with some good distribution from the back helping no end. Robson had a good run from the left channel, his shot eventually being blocked away for a corner. With time running out, Wednesday tried their Free Kick routine again, this time Lee headed the ball straight at Provett, and it was all set for extra time.

Wednesday had brought on Terry Cooke, and the winger did his best to try and bring his side back into the game, with some decent crosses and corners that put the Pools defence under more pressure. Pools had a weak shot from Strachan go wide, and then Provett produced a superb save to keep Pools in it on 101 minutes; a curling effort from Quinn 20 yards out looked to be heading for the top corner, but Provett got to it and touched it round the post for a corner. Lee was then booked for a foul on Robinson, and Clarke made way for Henderson.

Pools then took the lead for the first time. Humphreys broke into the box but was tackled; the ball broke to Robson, who crossed it over for Steven Istead to score his first senior goal with a tremendous flick header that gave Tidman no chance. Not bad from probably the smallest player on the pitch!

The second half of extra time saw an increasingly frustrated Wedensday side still struggling to break down the Pools defence, while Pools seemed to grow in confidence and played some very neat stuff as they probed for a third and surely decisive goal. However it was not to be, and after another Sheffield free kick wasn't properly cleared, Evans broke into the box and then slid the ball across goal for Wood to slot home. Neither side was able to lift themselves in the last five minutes enough to settle the tie, and so we had penalties. They were taken at the far end from the Pools fans, and it was almost impossible to make the numbers out.

Wednesday went first, Quinn putting the ball in the top right of the goal to give Provett no chance; Robinson then placed his penalty well to the left. Dean Smith then stepped forward, and although he hit it fairly well Provett guessed correctly to make the save low down to the left to send us all mad. Hendo then stepped forward to send Pools ahead, with Tidman not quite getting to the ball. Kuqi, Robson, Cooke, Jordan and Barry-Murphy all scored their penalties, to leave Gavin Strachan to take the kick that could win the tie; he hit it low to the right, and the ball just beat Tidman to seal the win and send the away end into raptures.

The Wednesday backlash seems to have already started. They could have had five, the game didn't matter to them, Pools aren't very good, they're concentrating on the league anyway.... if these sound like excuses, that's because they are. They were very short priced favourites to win this tie, and Turner fielded his strongest team; and although they did have the majority of the play, they simply struggled to break down an impressive Pools defensive unit and then found a young keeper with a point to prove when they did. In front of 12000 of their own fans, they should be expected to be up for it, and with the tag of promotion favourites they should have had the quality to unlock the Pools defence. Instead, Pools showed plenty of assurance under pressure, and tooke their chances. If Pools can perform like this away from home, we're going to be a tough side for any team to beat - and tough sides to beat seldom go down. Man of the Match has to be Chris Westwood, who was quite superb, but he was pushed very close by Jim Provett, who looked very capable and made at least two or three saves that were outstanding.

We may not have gained league points from this game, but we've gained an awful lot in terms of confidence. "We don't need to fear any side in this division" someone said not so long ago - on the evidence so far, the same thing applies. With Neale Cooper hardly putting a foot wrong so far, Pools look in good shape to have a comfortable season in Division 2.