Pools out of Youth Cup - but not without a fight

By Albatross
November 6 2002

Thrills and Spills, a cracking game, but when it comes down to it a defeat: Pools Youth Team lead three times at Port Vale in the FA Youth Cup second round, but eventually lost 4-3 after Extra Time. Albatross reports on a battling performance from Martin Scott's side.

It was a cold night at Vale Park as the Youth Team took on Port Vale in the FA Youth Cup second round. Pools lined up as follows:
James Winter, Andy Watts, John Brackstone, Daniel Fox, Neil Wilkinson, Darren Craddock, Steven Istead, Chris Gilligan, Andrew Appleby, Michael Maidens, Matty Robson.

Pools seemed be be lining up with a 4-5-1 formation, with Appleby playing as a loan striker. Port Vale started the game better, playing the better football and causing a few problems for Pools, especially down the right hand site. On 3 minutes a Vale cross from that site went just over the bar.

Pools won their first corner on 10 minutes, Istead taking it from the left - but it was too high. We were coming into the game a little more though, and Matty Robson had a good chance a couple of minutes later: his shot though went over the bar from a good position. Winter was soon called into action at the other end, and he made a good save from close range; the corner that followed saw a Vale player put the ball against the bar before being scrambled away.

Vale were still looking the better side, forcing a couple of corners, but Pools showed that they were not to be dismissed lightly; on 20 minutes a break down the left saw Pools win a corner, it was cleared and then put back in the box; Wilkinson fouled the Keeper though and was spoken to by the Ref.

Pools were starting to pass the ball around better and get into the game more, and on 26 minutes a long throw by Wilkinson from the Pools right was flicked on to Robson at the far post; he controlled the ball, turned, but dragged his shot wide.

Pools were defending resolutely, with Appleby working hard up front and the main Pools attacking coming down the wings through Istead and Robson; and on 40 minutes Robson went close to putting Pools ahead. The two wingers were both over a Free Kick on the left, just outside the area, Robson took it and chipped the ball over the wall, only to see his effort palmed over the bar by the Vale Keeper.

It was still 0-0 at the break, and although Vale had looked the better side Pools had come into the game a lot more in the last 15 minutes; Robson in particular was looking dangerous. Istead was also causing problems, and Winter had looked good in goal too.

The second half saw Pools looking to attack, and they almost scored soon after the restart; a deep free kick was played into the box, and Maidens saw his header go wide. The opening goal wasn't long in coming though; some good work by Appleby saw the ball played out to Istead; and the young winger showed good skill to take the ball past the defence and cut a great cross in from the byline that found GILLIGAN at the far post and left him with a straightforward header to put Pools ahead on 50 minutes.

Vale immediately started to put the pressure on, and almost drew level on 55 minutes; Hibbert broke clear of the defence, and his powerful shot from the edge of the area was on target; Winter got enough on the ball to slow it though, and then a Pools defender cleared the ball off the line. It was almost all Vale now, with another couple of good opportunities going begging before Maidens showed some good skill - his shot though was straight at the keeper.

The equaliser came on 66 minutes; a Vale player shot powerfully against the inside of the post, and the ball came out to O'REILLY who finished with aplomb.

Martin Scott decided to change things around a bit on 70 minutes, with Low coming on for Fox and Pools going to 4-4-2. Robson seemed to have decided that it was up to him to lift the lads, and he had a couple of good chances - a run and shot, and then a header wide as the rain started, before he finally did put Pools ahead. On 77 minutes ROBSON ran at the defence strongly, showed good determination to keep hold of the ball in the area, and then slotted home to restore the lead.

The lead didn't last long however; within two minutes no-one picked up a run by GOWLAND and he shot into the corner of Winter's goal. Robson again got down the left shortly after and put a great ball across, but it was Vale who were now looking for a winner.

Disaster struck with just five minutes to go when substitute for Vale Wilkes ran through the Pools defence; he was almost at the edge of the area when Craddock pulled him back, and once the foul was given there was no doubt that the red card would be shown to the Pools youngster.

The resultant Free Kick was deflected by the wall and then stopped by Winter, who wasted no time in putting Pools on the attack through Istead; his cross was too long, but Robson collected the ball and sent it back into the area where MAIDENS was able to bundle the ball home to put Pools ahead for a third time.

Once again though the lead didn't last long; Vale attacked, the ball wasn't cleares and BROWN drove the ball home.

There was a potentially ugly incident just at the end of normal time when Brackstone was adjudged to have fouled O'Reilly; the Vale player reacted angrily and there were a few handbags before it was calmed down by the Ref who didn't show a card. The free kick was headed away, the final whistle blew and we were all set for extra time.

With the man advantage, Vale dominated Extra Time, but some strong defending from Pools - now back to one up front - was keeping them at bay. We even carved out a couple of chances, with Robson getting a good cross in, and Low having a good run and shot. Richards replaced the hard-working Appleby just into the second half, but it was the Potteries team who looked more likely to score, as Winter was forced to make a good save from Reid and then palm another shot over the bar.

We looked all set for penalties, but with about five minutes left Port Vale made what proved to be the decisive strike; a corner from their left was bundled home by O'REILLY, and although Pools battled away to try and get the goal back, they couldn't quite manage it. The whistle went to give Vale a 4-3 victory that they perhaps deserved for their better passing, but were a touch fortunate to get having never lead until right at the end of extra time.

No Old Trafford memories this year then, but Pools future still looks in good hands. Winter did OK in goal despite conceding four, Appleby worked very hard, Maidens looked promising too: but the two standout men were (possibly as expected) the two wide men. Istead looked sharp and played with confidence and skill; but Matty Robson was probably Pools man of the match, proving to be a constant thorn in Vale's side. In the longer term, he certainly looks to have the potential to break into the first team squad on a more regular basis.