Darlo Report

By Eggy_Poolie
October 29 2006

A good performance but not many chances. Once again this season Hartlepool struggled to find the back of the net. Darlington will be the happier side with a point after they were overun for long periods of the game

Pools were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw against local rivals Darlington. Pools looked by far the better side and the more likely to win but once again the killer touch just couldnt be applied.

A crowd of 7 400 showed up and created an electric atmosphere. The majority of the noise coming from the back of the Town End and also the bottom part of the Camerons Brewery Stand.

Hartlepool started the brighter side and Jon Daly had a few half chances with his head but Sam Russel was never really tested in the Darlington goal. Hartlepool's closest chance of the half was ironically taken by Darlo defender Brian Close who was within inches of heding into his own net.

Hartlepool had several penalty appeals but the referee Mike Clattenburg just wasnt interested. Joel Porter played a clever 1-2 with Jon Daly but was bundled down in the box. Jon Daly had a couple of penalty appeals as he was pulled about but nothing was to come from them.

Pools ended the half with another close effort from Foley and Humphreys had a half chance from distance but the first half was destined to finish 0-0.

One of the biggest positives of the half was some great defending. Darlo had Joachim back in their side but the back 4 made him look very poor as he was blocked off at every occasion.

Darlington came out brighter after the break (without Joachim) but still never tested Dimi in the Pools goal. Alun Armstrong won a couple of corner kicks.

Pools came close throught Matty Robson but the second half was played mainly in the midfield. Danny Wilson brought on James Brown for an exhausted Joel Porter but Brown had very few opportunites to threaten the goal. The only chance he had, he ran into the box from the left wing and with David Foley waiting in the centre he curver his shot into the roof of the Rink End.

Hartlepool's best chances came late on. Nelson had two headers superbly saved by Sam Russel then Neil Wainright cleared a well driven shot by Gary Liddle off the line when it looked certain to go in.

A good performance by Pools and on any other day we would have taken the 3 points.