Report: Huddersfield Town 0 Hartlepool United 2

By Albatross
August 17 2004

It turned out to be a comfortable victory for Hartlepool United at the Galpharm Stadium - but Huddersfield will be ruing a few missed chances. It finshed Huddersfield 0 Hartlepool 2 - how did it look on Sky?

GOAL NUMBER ONE!

Pools lined up with Betsy on the right wing and Eifion Williams partnering Adam Boyd - a move widely expected - while Porter was joined on the bench by Konstantopoulos, Strachan, Istead, and - for the first time - Andy Appleby.

Heavy rain must have placed the game in doubt at one point, and it's tempting to say that Pools were defending the Shallow End in the first half. The pitch at the mainly magnificent Galpharm Stadium looked as if it had weathered the storm fairly well - but soon after Pools kicked off towards the end opposite us, it became apparent that conditions were pretty tricky with water spraying up at anything above a jog on the left flank.

Boyd almost got in to take advantage after the ball got stuck in a puddle early on, but couldn't quite get past the defender. Huddersfield were awarded a rather dubious-looking free kick on three minutes. Carss' ball across found Sodje at the far post who headed back across goal and Nelson had to be alert to block a shot behind for a corner that proved to be taken a bit too strongly for Clarke to get an effort on target. Boyd looked to get clear on 6 minutes, racing on to a flick-on through the centre and causing Senior in the Huddersfield goal to fumble for the ball before taking it at the second attempt.

Two minutes later Williams made a good break from his own half before being crudely tackled by Clarke, who as last defender was probably a little relieved to see just a yellow card for his misdemeanour in the centre circle. Robertson's free kick was lifted into the box but too far ahead of the Pools attackers. Huddersfield had soon worked out that they needed to avoid the Pools left, and it was from the other side that their first good opportunity came. Booth collected a flick header, and then sent a shot just wide of the far post with the whole goal to aim at.

Shortly after a break down the Pools Right gave Worthington a chance to shoot - only for Westwood to make the first of many crucial interventions and block the shot away. Humphreys was then a little fortunate to escape a booking after sliding in on Worthington - the sort of foul that always looks bad in these conditions, and possibly the reason he ecaped going in the book. The Free Kick was headed tamely at Provett. Prov wasted no time in getting Pools away down the right; Betsy took on one man too many but did well to get the ball to Ross who saw his cross cleared. Booth then looked to get onto the end of a cross from the right only to send his effort comfortably over. In many ways the pattern was familiar for Pools; we were defending stoutly enough, with Westie in particular looking to be in good form, but seemed to be lacking the control in midfield to really get into the game.

Huddersfield were looking pretty threatening, and with Mendes always willing to drop out to the left they certainly looked capable of creating something. Westwood had to be alert on 19 minutes to block a cross away for a corner; Provett then had to fist away the corner for another that caused no danger. Carss then tried a long range effort that was hopeful in the extreme and finished well wide of goal. We thought Hugh Robertson might have a chance for a crack at goal on 23 minutes after Williams was fouled about 20 yards out on the left; however Boyd took the set piece and although got his effort over the wall it was also comfortably at Senior.

Tinkler became the next man in the book on 25 minutes; he deserved to be too after sliding in very late on Brandon. The resulting free kick was cleared at the far post before Brandon shot well wide. Betsy was causing a few problems on the flank and attracted what looked like a bad foul on 28 minutes; however for once the Ref played advantage the way it should be done, allowing Eifion to get away; he was forced a bit wide and crossed from the left for Boyd to force a good stop from Senior. The ball came back out on the right, was crossed back in, and then made it out to Robertson on the left; his ball in though was just too far away from Boyd and ended up with a Pools Corner.

Another corner followed before a long throw from Robertson hit the bar off Betsy's head before going out for a goal kick. Pools were having their best spell of the match, and another Robertson Cross was played back in from the right for Boyd, leaping well, to send his header just off target. Huddersfield soon started putting the pressure on Pools though, and some great clearing headers and tackles from Westie were needed to keep them in check.

 A corner on 41 minutes looked like it might cause Pools some problems - but perhaps due to a soggy Bandanna Sodje first of all sent his header so wide it almost went for a throw in on the far side before being collected, and then put his header from the cross back in well over the bar. A foul on Betsy gave Robertson a chance to try a set piece on 42 minutes; his ball into the box was met by Nelson, but he only gave Senior a comfortable save.

Huddersfield were almost ahead as half time approached though; a good break down the right gave Mendes a chance to cross in only for Worthington to send his header just over. Pools though had the last real chance of the half; Humphreys played Eifion through on the left flank, only for his cross to be put behinf for a corner that proved just too far for anyone to get their head to. Half Time then, and to be honest Pools would have been happy to go in still level. While we had offered some threat, Huddersfield could consider themselves a bit hard done by not to be ahead - and with better finishing they would have been.

Pools came out after the break looking like a different side though, and attacking towards us soon gave a signal of intent. A quick move down the left saw Eifion lay the ball off to Humphreys, and his cross into the box found two Pools players almost falling over each other before the ball was cleared away for a throw in; the throw caused chaos in the penalty area, with Nelson seeing a shot blocked, before the keeper finally claimed the ball. Pools continued to pressurise, with most of the first ten minutes spent with us probing down the flanks.

Although we hadn't really carved out a clear chance, we were definately in the ascendancy and it looked like it might just be a matter of time. Huddersfield finally broke clear to good effect on 57 minutes though; Edwards inistially slipped, but recovered enough to send a cross over that Mendes headed over. Pools broke quickly themselves with Boyd, the ball came out on the right, but the cross from Betsy was too far behind the Pools forwards and Huddersfield went straight up the other end to force a couple of well-taken corners that eventually lead to a goal kick.

Boyd almost got away down the left on 61 minutes and settled for trying to play in Eifion - who saw the Keeper get to the ball just a little too far ahead of him. Boyd had an attempt on goal himself on 62 minutes; after collecting the ball in the right channel he cut inside before, with nothing else on, trying a chip from 20 yards that went over by a couple of feet.

Pools should have had a free kick on 66 minutes when a Huddersfield defender went through very late on Ross - so late that it's possible that the Ref missed it too! Ross needed treatment before resuming. Meanwhile, Williams and Betsy switched positions, the on-loan Barnsley man moving into the middle. The first goal finally came on 68 minutes, and it was created by Boyd. The Pools striker latched onto a long ball out to the Pools right - still damp and treacherous - before beating his man and stroking the ball across to BETSY, who had all the time in the world to choose his spot and did so with aplomb to put Pools ahead.

It seemed like the game had hardly restarted before Pools went further ahead. Boyd received the ball in a similar position on the right from a quick free kick and turned inside to slide an inviting cross along the six yard box for TINKLER to finish easily at the far post.

Huddersfield looked to change things around with Mendes and Clarke being replaced by Abbott and Schofield on 72 minutes. However Pools had their tails up and were in no mood to let things slide - and Boyd almost got on the end of anothre channel ball on 73 minutes, Senior racing out of his goal to clear for a throw in. While the pitch had drained pretty well all things considered, it was still treacherous out on the right and Boyd almost took advantage on 78 minutes; stealing in after a slip from a Huddersfield defender, he worked the ball across where it reached Sweeney; his shot from 20 yards was accurate enough but lacked the power to really trouble the goalie.

 Huddersfield were struggling to get back into the game, and on 80 minutes a good cross from the left almost found Sodje, who in attack seemed unable to direct a header all night. Abbott then went on a good run before forcing a good save low down from Provett. A long throw into the box was the next strategy, Ross blocking one shot before Provett comfortably took the return cross. Pools however looked pretty comfotable and with Huddersfield's attack still malfunctioning - Brandon putting his shot over when it looked easier to score on 88 minutes - the result was in no doubt and the 700-odd Pools fans greeted the final whistle and our first every victory in a live game on Sky.

This was far from a walk in the park for Pools, and although we probably deserved the win overall 2-0 flattered us a little. Huddersfield looked the better side before the break, before Pools came out and took the game by the scruff of the neck; and some better finishing from them might well have seen a better result. However, Pools were clinical in front of goal, solid at the back, and did enough in midfield to suggest that this will be the first of more than the odd away victory this season. Betsy did well, and to be honest if we can agree a wage deal I fully expect Cooper to add him to our squad permanently. Westwood was outstanding at the back; and Adam Boyd turned provider and looked a class act - Huddersfield just couldn't keep him under control.

A good win for Pools over a side that did well at home last season then, and maybe a few of the pundits will start to revise their opinion of us as being a flash in the pan. Of course, Huddersfield know that already.....