Pools season continues to see-saw

Wasted possession, missed chances and a giveaway goal – that’s Hartlepool v MK Dons in a nutshell as the visitors pinched the points in a game from which they deserved nothing. But if they continue to miss out in front of goal, of course, pools have only themselves to blame as their season continues to see-saw between joy and frustration.

In the end, from the Pools points of view the afternoon was only notable for the fact that evergreen Richie Humphreys equalled the club record of 472 appearances. His achievement deserved a better game.
But it was as drab as the weather for much of the time, and the first half didn’t deserve the game’s only goal, which arrived just before the break when Evan Horwood’s attempt to chest the ball back to keeper Scott Flinders fell short and Daniel Powell cashed in.
In the second half, with Horwood earning huge credit for the way he played after his error, Pools were clearly the better team, but on-loan Ryan Donaldson volleyed against the bar and had a goal disallowed, Colin Larkin and James Brown were both inches wide and near the end Sam Collins blasted against the bar and Antony Sweeney headed the rebound wide.
Mick Wadsworth was as frustrated as anybody else and admitted on the club website: “The mistake was a terrible shame because we had held the line well and I think that was their first entry in our box in open play.
“It was a gutsy performance, but it was one of those crazy days you have from time to time where you play well and don’t get what you deserve.
“I thought we got a goal when Ryan scored – he is adamant it didn’t hit his hand. But we have to live with that.”
The consolation is that Pool have an early chance to bounce back when Southampton visit the Vic on Tuesday night in a game which gives Richie Humphreys the opportunity to become a record breaker.