Walsall Report

By Eggy_Poolie
February 11 2007

Hartlepool came from 1-0 down against top of the league Walsall to win 3-1 in dramatic fashion at the Vic. Walsall started brightly and scored after just 3 minutes. Hartlepool dominated the rest of the game and had to wait til just after the break to equalise and then two more goals in 88 and 92 minutes.

The amtosphere inside the Vic was probably the best it has been all season and Pools players wanted to out on a show however it was Walsall who took the lead. They won two quick corners and with Pools defense failing to clear the ball was poked through to Martin Butler who cooly finished. Except for the goal for Walsall, Pools dominated the rest of the game

Hartlepool almost leveled when Andy Monkhouse played a low cross into Sweeney but the covering defender managed to clear the ball before he could score. Richie Barker then came close when he got on the end of a through balll from Ben Clarke. He ran clear but his placed shot was well saved by Clayton Ince in the Walsall goal

Hartlepool also had chances through Nelson and E Williams but Pools were behind at the break

Half Time
Hartlepool 0-1 Walsall

The second half was to be much better for the Pools side and it became the second time Pools scored more than one goal since boxing day.

5 minutes into the second half Hartlepool won a corner which was knocked in by Humphreys, the ball found the head of Nelson but the keeper just managed to tip the ball over the bar. The resulting corner was once again knocked in by Humphreys straight onto the head of Nelson and into the back of the net sending the Pools fans into raptures.

Walsall did have some possesion in the second half but despite all their pace up front they were unable to beat the Pools defense.

Hartlepool fans had their hearts in their mouths when they heard the Walsall fans shout for a penalty with 3 minutes to go but the referee waved away the protests. One minute later Hartlepool broke and with Andy Monkhouse running towards goal was taken down. The ref could easily have sent the player off but gave him a yellow

The resulting free kick had Liddle, Sweeney and Humphreys all looking to take it Humphreys decided he wanted it and words cant do justice to how good the goal was. He smashed the ball just inside the post. The fans went into raptures again but it wasnt over yet.

In the 92 minute Barker made it 3-1 he was fed through by Foley and Barker did seem offside when he placed the ball just inside the post to make it 3-1.

Full Time
Hartlepool 3-1 Walsall

Probably our best game this season and Hartlepool could easily have scored more than 3. The win moves us up to second as Swindons game with Rochdale was called off.