Match Report: Barnsley 2 Hartlepool United 2

By Albatross
February 8 2004

It finished 2-2, and the goals weren't all there was to talk about - a penalty save and a world-class stop from Provett, a red card, and tempers that seemed barely under control from the home side. Pools maybe should have taken all three points, and with sharper finishing would have.

There was a decent turnout of Poolies at Oakwell, a shower causing the early birds to move back into the stand as the team warmed up on the pitch. As expected, Westie moved to right back in place of Barron, with Scott Walker making his debut in the centre alongside Nelson; Hugh Robertson also made his debut, with Robson dropping down to the bench. Up front, Paul Robinson retained his place. In the absence of Barron, Richie Humphreys was given the captain's armband.

Pools decided to kick towards us in the first half, and Robinson looked to have got away from the defence early on after reacting first to a loose ball; however he was adjudged to have handled the ball.

Pools did have a more meaningful attack a couple of minutes in; an ill-advised Barnsley backpass saw them concede a throw in on the left that Ritchie launched into the box towards Nelson; however it was cleared, and Betsy picked up the ball to launch a swift counter-attack down the left; Westie saved the day with a great tackle to concede a corner that was cleared, and then some good play sent Shuker away on the right. He however took on one player too many, and lost the ball. When Pools tried to play the ball back into the box for Eifion, the Welsh forward found himself ruthlessly body-checked - but the Ref decided that nothing underhand had taken place.

Eifion was lurking by the last defender on 5 minutes when he attempted a weak back-header; the pacy forward gave chase, forcing Beresford to come out quickly and clear the ball just ahead of Williams.

Nardiello then had a chance after some good build-up play, but he managed to stumble as he turned in the box and didn't get a shot in.

Pools were harrying the Barnsley defence at every opportunity, and Shuker was getting involved in plenty of the action as a result; Barnsley were struggling somewhat with no time on the ball.

Pools won a free kick on 12 minutes that gave them the opportunity to try the same routine that had almost payed off at Tranmere. Strachan's flighted kick from about 40 yards was aimed towards the late arriving Nelson - but Beresford got there first to claim the ball.

Barnsley were starting to get into the game a little more, and on 18 minutes managed to give Neil a shooting chance; however his scrambled effort was weak and no problem for Provett. Shortly after the home fans thought they'd gone ahead when Nardiello got the ball in the net from a free kick on the right; however both Nardiello and another Barnsley player were a good couple of yards offside and it was disallowed.

It was Pools though that took the lead on 27 minutes. Provett took a long free kick that Barnsley could only get away to Humphreys on the right, who had switched wings with Shuker; he quickly put over a tremendous cross that EIFION WILLIAMS nodded home from close range.

Pools continued to press, with Shuker causing all sorts of problems for the home defence;he received a great ball on 30 minutes, crossed from the left but saw it cleared as far as Strachan; however, his attempt to lift the ball back into the box was ballooned high in the air to give Beresford an easy take.

Barnsley were starting to get frustrated, and Lumsdon was lucky not to get a yellow card for kicking Westie up in the air on 34 minutes; he was spoken to but escaped a card. From the resulting free kick, Eifion had the chance for a pot shot from 30 yards that was well off target. Kay then tried a long range effort and injured himself in the process - the shot went well over the bar.


Austin was booked on 37 minutes after a foul on Shuker - he appeared to elbow him - that saw the wide man receive treatment; then there was a disturbance amongst some of the Barnsley fans. One had apparently been waving a monkey on a string in the direction of the Poolies from as close as he could get to us - the Stewards decided they didn't like this and soon found themselves trying to show his the error of his ways.... Meanwhile the free kick was taken by Robertson, cleared, and then punted back in from deep just too far away from Eifion.

Barnsley started to press as they looked to go into half time level, and three crosses in succession looked to cause the Pools defence some trouble; however, the final one was well cleared, and some good work from Robinson and Robertson down the left saw Pools back on the attack - and showboating a little near the Barnsley area with a backheel, some close control, and then finally a measured pass that wasn't read by Robinson.

The incident that ignited the game came on the 45 minute mark. Humphreys took a long throw into the box from the right near the corner flag; however before anything decisive could happen the Ref blew his whistle and showed Lumsdon a straight red. While the eyes of most were on the ball coming across, the Ref - and a few sharp-eyed Pools fans - had spotted Lumsdon give Shuker a quick elbow that again needed treatment for the winger; in fact blood must have been visible as the Ref insisted on checking himself before allowing Shuker back on the field. Strachan's free kick was cleared.

Pools almost took advantage from another free kick on the left touchline as added time was played; his low cross was deflected towards the near post by Tinkler, but Beresford had read the situation and made the save.

Barnsley decided to bring on Isaiah Rankin at the break to try and chase the game, and with the home side pushing forward they almost levelled the game within the first three minutes. A cross from the left was cleared to the edge of the area where Crookes drove towards goal; Nelson tried to block it, but only succeeded in deflecting it the other way. Provett was wrong-footed, already going the other way, but somehow made a truly great save by getting his hand to it; not resting on his laurels, he then got up quickly to block the shot on the rebound with his legs at the near post. A terrific save by the young Pools stopper, one that any keeper would admire.

The game almost exploded again on 55 minutes. Pools won a throw on the right, and Ritchie came across to save it; Rankin stood directly in front of him, depite a Barnsley player being told by the ref in the first half that he had to back off a little. Ritchie followed through, leaving Rankin needing treatment; nothing was given though, and now both Pools wingers were booed whenever they touched the ball.

Just a minute later though Barnsley were level. Pools were caught out by a quick free kick taken from deep , and NARDIELLO was on the end of the left-to right throughball to drive home.

There was still plenty of animosity coming from both Barnsley players and fans, and Betsy went in hard on Humphreys just after the restart; the ref gave nothing, although he did speak to the Barnsley player. Shuker too had been the target of some rough treatment as fans and players for the home side seemed to be in danger of losing the plot.

On 60 minutes Barnsley looked like they were about to take an undeserved lead. Nardiello was trying to beat Robertson on the right of the area, and went to the outside of the Pools defender before descending to the turf. He'd cunningly done this in a position where he was on the blind side of both Ref and Linesman, who was on the far side of the incident; and he seemed to go down rather easily.... Justice was done however when Betsy's poor spot kick was easily saved by Provett; who had carefully not committed himself until he saw where the Barnsley forward was placing it.

Barnsley continued to press, Nelson having to make a great tackle in the box on Rankin after Westwood had missed his challenge, but Pools were creating chance too; on 67 minutes a Provett goal kick was flicked on to Shuker, who put his effort just over the bar. A minute later though Pools did get back in front. A long throw from Ritchie on the left wasn't cleared well by Barnsley, Strachan headed the ball back in, and TINKLER pounced on the ball to steer it home.

More chances for Pools followed, with a quick attack down the right leading to a corner when Shuker's cross was eventually put behind; Strachan's flag kick was cleared back to him, he tried again only to see Beresford claim the ball.

Barnsley hadn't given up, unlike Port Vale in the same situation, and Betsy - who had a poor game overall - sent his shot wide after Robertson had been turned inside out. With 75 minutes gone Nelson was lucky not to put the ball into his own net when his header from a cross almost crept inside the near post.

Robertson was struggling to come to terms with the pace of the game by now, and made a few errors that had the fans calling for a sub; they duly got him, Robson coming on. Almost straight away Pools had a chance to go further ahead when Robinson robbed a defender, leaving him with just Beresford to beat; however, his lack of form in front of goal showed as he dithered, allowing Beresford to come out and smother the ball at his feet. Robinson had been doing plenty of hard work though, and showed his other side a couple of minutes later with a superb ball to set Shuker away; he made it into the box, and saw his shot diverted away for a corner.

Pools paid the price for not finishing Barnsley off a couple of minutes later. Robson stood off Neil, allowing him to put in a superb cross that HAYWARD headed home.

Pools kept looking for a way through, and on 83 minutes a great flowing move involving Humphreys, Robinson and Eifion created a chance for the Welshman, only to see his shot blocked away for a corner. That was cleared for a long throw that caused confusion in the Barnsley box, Eifion played the ball back in from the right to Humphreys who sent his shot well over.

Ritchie then showed some of his vision on 87 minutes when he chased down a ball near the corner flag and collected it, and then made his way into the box - only to deliver a poor ball that was easily cleared.

Our best remaining chance of a goal came on 88 minutes, when Pols were awarded a free kick in prime Strachan range. Sure enough the midfielder took the kick, and curled the ball up and over the wall - only to find Beresford in good position to comfortably save.

With Pools starting to tire Cooper sent on Istead and Porter for Shuker and Robinson, but neither side made a breakthrough and we had to content ourselves with a 2-2 draw.

Before the game I'd have been happy with a point, but afterwards it felt more like two dropped. Pools were a goal and a man to the good, ahead twice, and had enough opportunites to make the game safe; credit to Barnsley who re-organised well and always kept pushing, but a little sharper finishing would have seen us win this comfortably. The ref was mystifying, annoying both sides at different points - but with Pools causing trouble down both flanks, we should have won this. Ritchie had another decent game, and showed flashes of his old self; Shuker was a constant thorn in their side; and Provett was superb, with a world-class double save and a penalty stop into the bargain. However a point it is, and we still remain in the thick of it as regards the playoff places. The next stop on the Poolie Express is Hillsborough; see you there!