Pools extend lead with win over Southend

By Albatross
October 25 2002

It was a tough game for Pools, one that we needed to take something out of, and we got exactly the result we needed. Victory over Southend puts us 6 points clear of the rest - at least for the moment - and puts the pressure on the chasing pack. Albatross reports thanks to the Pools World Commentary.

Chris Turner decided to start with the side that played Wrexham, and this meant that Pools lined up playing 4-4-2 - an unusual occurence away from home. It did however pay off almost immediately: in less than a minute, Richardson got to the ball and flicked it on to EIFION WILLIAMS, who finished from just inside the area to put Pools into the lead with just 55 seconds on the clock.

The early exchanges continued to go Pools way, as more good work by Richardson on 3 minutes helped create a shooting chance for Tinkler; however his long-range effort curled away from the target.

Southend's first real threat arrived on 8 minutes. Tes Bramble got down the Pools Left, and put a good cross into the box; Mickey Barron was on hand though to head the ball behind for a corner, which was cleared by Tinks. A couple of minutes later, another corner for Southend was cleared by Westwood.

Pools were attacking and playing balls into the box, but the next chance fell to Bramble on 14 minutes; however, his shot from the edge of the area went wide. Another couple of corners followed at the Shrimpers tried to get back into the game, and Ian Selley was the next to have a go - but his 20 yard effort was comfortably saved by Williams.

Graeme Jones found his way into the Referee's Notebook on 20 minutes, after his third foul on Spike of the half. Shortly after Pools got a free kick in a good position as Richardson was fouled by Whelan; Flahavan however claimed Smith's cross.

Southend were struggling to create good opportunities, and Williams had another comfortable save when Jay Smith tried his luck from 30 yards; and on the Half Hour Bramble had an effort from not much closer in go wide. The Pools rearguard was having to deal with a number of crosses, and Spike and Westie were showing their mettle. Selley had another effort on 34 minutes from 18 yards, but again missed the target. At the other end, Darrell Clarke tried his luck from 20 yards, but his weak shot went wide of the target as well. Not long after, a Free Kick from Smith found it's way to Tinkler 20 yards out; his shot was blocked though and the ball went out for a throw in.

Chris Westwood was booked after 42 minutes for a foul on Tes Bramble, who seemed to be causing Pools a few problems; from the resulting Free Kick, Cort headed wide from six yards out. In Injury Time Southend carved out another chance; the ball was crossed to Jenkins, who managed to shoot over the bar, also from six yards.

It was something of a boon to Pools then when Bramble failed to appear for the second half; presumably he was injured. He was replaced by Mark Rawle.

Pools won their first corner on 46 minutes; Paul Smith flighted the ball in but it was cleared by Selley. A couple of minutes later, the substitute, Rawle, got a cross in and found Jay Smith; Mickey Barron managed to get in the way.

Pools were still looking for a second goal, and almost had it on 50 minutes when Richardson had a shot from close range; however Flahavan was equal to the challenge. Anothe Corner for Pools came shortly after, and this time Smith crossed for Lee, who tried an overhead kick that didn't quite come off and was saved by the Southend Keeper.

The next action came at the other end; Rawle slid in late on Taff, and was booked for his efforts. Southend did start to bring some sustained pressure to bear on Pools, but once more the Pools defence stuck to their task manfully and limited their opportunities to long range efforts and crosses into the box.

The Southend fans seemed to be getting frustrated, and on 64 minutes there was what was described by the Pools World/Radio Cleveland team as an ugly incident. Tinkler fouled Maher, and then apparently seemed to be hit by an object - possibly a coin - thrown from the crowd. The fourth official was involved, as were a number of stewards, and it will be interesting to see if the incident is reported.

Southend replaced Ian Selley with Damon Searle and Stephen Broad with Steven Clark as they continued to try and find a way back into the game, and Clark was soon involved, his 20 yard effort hitting Westwood.

Again, Southend started to get the better of the play, but again they seemed to lack the key to the Pools defence; more crosses were fielded by Taff and the back four, before Kevin Maher tried another long range effort that failed to trouble Williams. They did have a good effort on 78 minutes though; a Maher corner made it as far as Phil Whelan, but Barron was on hand to get an important block in on his shot from inside the area.

Another couple of corners were dealt with more comfortably, but Pools were looking under pressure; and so CT decided to change things around. Tommy Widdrington came on for Smith (who seemed to be suffering from cramp) on 83 minutes, and shortly after Paul Arnison took the place of Darrell Clarke as Pools switched to 3-5-2. One or two eyebrows were raised in the Chat Room at this point as Pools were defending a corner; however when the cross came in Taff was able to punch it away.

With time running out, Easter came on to replace Eifion, and was soon in the action; Whelan fouled him and received a booking. With four minutes of added time there were a few nervous Poolies about, but it was Pools who closed the game down, with a Widds cross and Humphreys corner helping to run the clock down.

Another away win then - Pools fourth of the season - and for the moment at least we're six points clear of the field. It wasn't easy - Southend will be kicking themselves for not making more of their chances - but it's results like this, the wins and draws ground out that we didn't get last season, that make Pools look ever stronger candidates for promotion. The signal to the rest of the division is, in the words of the Dave Clark 5 song that Shrewsbury play, "Catch us if you can!"