Wycombe Report

By Eggy_Poolie
November 27 2006

2 league wins in a row and a win in the cup during the week. Hartlepool put in one of their better performances this season to see off Wycombe. Two goals by Darryl Duffy and a good performance by our other loan signing Monkhouse made it a good afternoon for Pools

Pools put in an impressive performance against Wycombe to take a much needed 3 points. The team played for each other and had the right mixture of passion, determination and skill to overcome a Wycombe side that so far have proved to be one of the better sides in League 2.

Hartlepool had the most of the opening chances. The two on loan signings, Darryl Duffy and Andy Monkhouse, caused problems for the defense. Monkhouse had 2 early efforts delfected wide by defenders as he got on the end of passes from Ritchie Humphreys and Eifion Williams.
Monkhouse then set up a great chance for Duffy but Duffy's shot went just wide of the target

Then after all the chances Pools finally took the lead and scored our first home goal in open play since the Stockport game. Nelson played a long ball which was flicked on by Jon Daly into the path of Duffy. Duffy controlled the ball flicked it over the head of the defender and the keeper before placing the ball into the open goal.

Pools then nearly doubled the lead when Gary Liddle volleyed the ball goalbound but it was saved by the Wycombe keeper. As the half wore on Wycombe created more chances and Jermain Easter and Tommy Mooney started coming into the game.

Micky Barron then became a hero for Pools when he headed off the line twice from successive corners. Wycombe then thought they had levelled when Tommy Mooney headed into the net but the ref instantly blew for a foul on the keeper.

Pools went in to the half time break infront and deservedly so. The second half was a more even affair and both sides had spells of pressure and both sides creating chances. Just before the hour mark Darryl Duffy scored his second of the game. Monkhouse cut inside from the left wing and passed the ball across the box to E Williams. Williams then knocked the ball to Duffy who controlled the ball and smashed it into the back of the net from the edge of the box.

Hartlepools defense was on top all the way through and the Wycome attack couldnt find a way through. With Nelson and Clarke on top of their games again Wycombe had to resort to long shots and it nearly came off for them if it wasnt for a top class save from Dimi in the Pools goal.

Hartlepool could have easily scored more and almost did. Sweeney made his return to the team and played fantastically and played some brilliant though balls. He then ran through onto a through ball himself and only the Wycombe keeper stopped him from making it 3-0

This was better by Pools and it started to resemble the side that pushed for promotion for so many seasons