Hartlepool v Swansea v Scunthorpe v Shrewsbury

By Simian
April 12 2002

Well here we go. The first of the 2 games that we've all waited for. Is it really only a week since Halifax? My prediction is Hartlepool to win 3 or 4 - 1. But beware, history is not on our side!

Hartlepool United have consistantly failed to stand up to to the pressure of big games build up for the past 2 seasons. Remember Darlow in the play offs, Blackpools in the play offs, Forest in the cup and now Swansea. Surely it can't happen again!

All the conjecture about Scunthorpe v Darlington/York, or the very much taken for granted Shrewsbury v Luton game, will come to nought if Pools can't do their bit by taking 6 points from Swansea and Exeter.

12 months ago I had actually booked a hotel in Cardiff for the play-off final. Travel arrangements were made an I'd even arranged to meet up with an old friend. As we all know, Brett Ormorod cancelled all my well laid plans by scoring 4 goals.

The moral of this tale is simply that we have been discussing the Darlo v Scunny game as if Swansea had read the script and the conclusion was completely foregone. Perhaps they have! and the taffys will come to lie down and die. Believe that at your peril. Contracts are yet to be decided, players will be trying to impress watching scouts and managers. Swansea will not be coming to make up the numbers.

Pools MUST play to their full potential to guarantee the right result. This is as important as any game we've been involved in during the past 3 years. Pools simply have to be up for it.

That said, Pools are on a superb run, confidence is sky high and I can't see further than a Hartlepool win by two or three clear goals.

There again, I had a hotel booked in Cardiff..................