Match Report: Pools 1 Bristol City 1

By Albatross
May 19 2004

Hartlepool United and Bristol City will go into the Playoff Semi second leg on equal terms after a 1-1 draw at Victoria Park that was the least we deserved. Pools conceded an early goal and then had most of the play before equalising - and almost snatching a winner.

There was a definate cup-tie atmosphere around Victoria Park before kickoff, with Sky TV, merchandisers, face painting, you name it! Pools lined up with Eifion Williams once more on the right - and with Istead spotted in his suit before kickoff it looked like he'd stay there....

Pools kicked off towards the Rink End, and it didn't take long to get forward. Good linkup play between Boyd and Porter won Pools a corner in the first minute, the ball was cleared from the flag kicvk but came back into the box where the Keeper spilled it and was fortunate not to present Tinkler with an opportunity to open the scoring.

The early goal wasn't long in coming, but unfortunately it went the other way. Pools failed to stick to Roberts as he broke down the left as City attacked for the first time on four minutes. He turned inside, and had all the time in the world to deliver a teasing cross to the far post where two Bristol City players were lurking; ROUGIER was the one who got his head to the ball and into the net.

Pools were briefly in disarray, with Nelson missing a header a couple of minutes later as Peacock got the chance for a long range effort that went wide, and then almost being caught out by a long ball over the top that saw Roberts outpace the Pools defence before sending a poor shot well wide.

Pools were soon looking to Hugh Robertson to get back on track though, as we won a free kick 25 yards out on the left; Shuggie curled in a cross that was headed partially clear, and the Bristol defence successfully crowded out any further opportunity. Shortly after Porter became the first player in the book for what according to those that saw the Sky coverage was a bit of play acting by his opponent. Bristol were certainly not averse to putting themselves about a bit, and it seemed harsh for Joel to be shown a card when challenges from the players in red were going unpunished.

The chants of "Hugh" went up again on 12 minutes as Shuggie came across to try a free kick from the right; his cross found Nelson, but he was tightly marked and the ball was blocked away. A few minutes later Robertson lifted a long free kick into the area where it was blocked back out to Porter, who shot well over.

Pools seemed to be relying on set pieces to get the ball into the box, and when Porter was barged near the Corner Flag on the right on 21 minutes Shug put in a great cross that was put behind for a corner on the other side; he went across to take that, but slightly overhit it.

On 23 minutes Williams went down pole-axed after what seemed to be a clash of heads with Doherty 20 yards out; my initial reaction was it was a foul, but both players needed treatment. With Pools having been looking to attack, when we didn't contest the drop ball and saw Phillips simply catch the ball and then play on as if nothing had happened I couldn't help feeling it was not really the sort of sportsmanship I wanted to see...

On 25 minutes Pools won a throw on the left that Humphreys took long towards Eifion; the ball ended up blocked back out towards Sweeney, who struck a powerful shot towards goal that Phillips had to touch behind for a corner; from the corner it almost looked as if we'd scored, but the ball went just wide of the near post.

Pools were really starting to hit their stride now, and a great ball from Tinkler found Porter on the left wing; the Aussie did well to win a corner that was put onto Nelson's head - however Nelse could only loop the ball towards goal for a comfortable save.

Robertson had another chance to try a set piece on 31 minutes, with a free kick on the right about 30 yards out. His effort curled in towards the near post, forcing Phillips to concede yet another corner that this time was easily dealt with by the keeper. A couple of minutes later Nelson needed some treatment following a challenge on the edge of the area as Pools risked playing themselves into trouble, but it was now rare that City attacked in numbers as they instead looked happy to hold onto their goal advantage.

Pools were continuing to show more going forwards, and some good play from Boyd set us away on 36 minutes; he passed to Humphreys, who saw his cross cleared but then got the ball back from Tinkler before exchanging passes with Robertson and heading into the box to see his shot blocked behind for yet another corner.

Hugh tried another free kick on 38 minutes, his effort from the right though was straight at the keeper. City finally started to attack a little more as the break approached, with a corner that was cleared and then pumped back in; Provett half punched it to Roberts, who saw his shot blocked behind for another corner. Rougier won a free kick on the right that was cleared towards Boyd, who did well and set up a long range effort for Robertson that was always going well off target. After three minutes of added time we went in at the break knowing that we needed to show a little more craft going forward; too often we were being crowded out as Bristol looked to defend deep and make it hard for us to break them down.

Pools came out to attack in the second half, and it was Richie Humphreys that had the first opportunity; he broke down the left, got the ball back from a defender 20 yards out, but was off balance and could only send his shot wide of the far post. Shortly after Bristol City made their first substitution as Doherty made way for Burnell.

Robertson was again trying a set piece on 53 minutes, his effort from 30 yards out on the right only found Phillips once more.

On 58 minutes Pools looked like they should have had a penalty. Humpheys played a great ball towards Eifion Williams, but as the Welshman made his way into the box to collect the ball he was felled by Phillips. 6600 people called for what looked a solid penalty - but the ref decided otherwise, instead awarding a corner after presumably deciding Phillips had made contact with the ball first.

Burnell made his way into the book just ten minutes after coming on after a poor tackle on Humphreys; the free kick went right into the mixer, was cleared out towards Barron and then driven in by the Pools skipper - however there wasn't a Pools player close enough to get a shot away.

Pools were really bossing the game now, getting sustained pressure going on the City goal and getting some good crosses in to boot. City were attacking only sporadically, however after one attack Pools cleared the ball out to Boyd, who looked to control the ball and start an attack going - only to be cynically shoved in the back by Roberts. To the great delight of the Poolies, Roberts - who had been mouthing off at every available opportunity - was booked for his efforts. The long free kick into the box was knocked back to Humphreys, who sent his effort well over the bar.

There was a moment of concern on 66 minutes as Provett needed treatment after punching a cross clear and colliding with a Bristol player; he was able to continue after treatment. The drop ball was uncontested, with Provett picking the ball up and then, as Phillips had done earlier in the game, continuing with play. This incensed the City fans for some reason - maybe they'd conveniently forgotten the incident from the first half....

Pools continued to press forward, some good play on the left on 71 minutes leading to a looped cross that Sweeney headed goalwards - but without power, giving Phillips a comfortable take. Sweeney found himself in the thick of it shortly after, using his strength and battling well to get down the right and eventually win Pools a corner. Boyd took the set piece, placing the ball onto the head of a tightly-marked Nelson who could only head wide.

Two minutes later though we were finally back on level terms. Boyd got amongst the defenders and managed to touch the ball on for PORTER to run onto; the Australian forward got to the ball first, touched it past Phillips and then stroked home from the left hand side of the area.

It was a goal we thoroughly deserved: City had shown little ambition after their goal, had hardly had a meaningful attack in the second half, and you got the feeling that if there was another goal in this game it was going to go our way.

Porter however wouldn't be the man to get it - with 10 minutes to play he was withdrawn to make way for Robinson. Shortly after Rougier was replaced by Murray for our opponents.

That second Pools goal almost arrived on 82 minutes. Robinson broke down the right, fed the ball into the area, and Tinkler headed the loose ball back in for Boyd to hit a rasping volley goalwards - only to see Phillips make a superb reaction save. Sweeney went down with what looked like cramp, being replaced by Danns, before the corner came across and was touched away for another at the far post.

With normal time running out, some good pressing from Robinson won us a free kick on the left that found the head of Nelson - who again could only send the ball wide.

Luke Wilkshire joined the action in place of Roberts, and Clarke came on briefly in stoppage time after Nelson needed treatment (possibly cramp again?) before the final whistle saw Pools given a rapturous reception by the majority of the crowd - 7211, with Bristol selling less than 700 of their allocation. The scene is now set for an intriguing game on Wednesday.