Hartlepool v Rushden - Match Preview

By Albatross
September 27 2002

The next visitors to table-topping Pools are Rushden and Diamonds. It's a game that Pools will need to win if they want to stay at the head of the field, and Rushden are likely to be one of our challengers this season - a vital game then. Albatross previews the game.

Rushden have been a bit Jeckyl and Hyde this season. At home, they have the best record in the division - winning four and drawing one. Away from Nene Park it's a different story though: they have so far failed to win any of their five away games, although they have managed three draws, at Swansea, York and Shrewsbury.

Onandi Lowe was the main danger man for Rushden last season, but he hasn't been scoring so freely this time around, having so far scored just twice. Diamonds top scorer is in fact Lowe's fellow Jamaican International, winger Paul Hall, with four goals - two of them coming in the 2-2 draw with Wrexham last week. However, three goal striker Duane Darby missed that game through injury and is likely to miss the trip to Pools as well, but Stuart Gray may return. Scott Partridge may well play up front for Diamonds after playing there against Wrexham.

The last line of defence for Rushden is Billy Turley, usually regarded as one of the more solid keepers in the division. They have shipped 13 goals so far this season though, and hopefully Pools will be able to add at least a couple to that tally.

The big decision for CT is whether to stick with the 3-5-2 he started with at Bury or to switch back to the 4-4-2 that has been so effective at home. With Paul Arnison a slight doubt, I think he'll switch back to 4-4-2, with Robinson returning to the side in place of Arno.

Up front, Williams and Boyd already look like a partnership that will trouble most defences in our division. Williams particularly was exceptional at Gigg Lane, his pace, close control and work-rate causing any number of problems, while Boyd scored for the second consecutive match and also showed some of his skills. Both look determined to stay in the side for as long as possible, and hopefully when Gordon Watson returns he will find it difficult to force his way back into the side. It's a measure of how strong the Pools squad is at the moment that even without Flash and Paul Smith we look a very dangerous outfit going forward.

There has been good news for both of those players this week though; Smith is just about to resume full training, and while this game is a bit too soon for him he may have some part to play at Shrewsbury next week, while Flash is being fitted with a "flexi cast" that he can remove for activities such as swimming. Obviously the bone is healing well, and while that process can't be speeded up much, the new cast should allow him to do more while injured and therefore hopefully be back to match fitness sooner when he does resume full training. Speculation continues to mount about possible transfer targets; Marcus Richardson of Torquay is the current name being mentioned by most, as he is likely to be leaving the Gulls shortly and at 6'2" would fit CT's specification for a tall, powerful forward. Richardson has of course already scored against Pools this season, and this will not have done him any harm with Turner!

Pools gave Rushden a mauling at the Vic last season, and even though Diamonds haven't won for four games I expect them to put up a fight. Even so, it's difficult to see any result other than a Pools Win; so I'll go for 2-0, with Williams and Humphreys to add to their tally.