Play-Off Hopes Gone

This was one of the more bizarre games seen at the Vic in many a year and an abject lesson in how to lose a game and end your promotion hopes.

Mansfield seized their chance and ended up somehow winning 4-2 after we dominated the first hour with some of the best football seen this season - even if it was a bit frenetic at times.

But there were two turning points . The first came when Marlon Harewood decided he would take on a tragicomic role and insist on taking a penalty just before the break Jack Compton had stepped up confidently with ball in hand but big Marlon wrestled it off him and, predictably, promptly allowed the keeper a comfortable save.

If he had scored it would have been 2-1 at the break. In the absence of Walton it has to be asked who was the desigtnated penalty taker? Was there one?

Marlon had already finished an excellent move by slotting the ball home to equalise an early gift for Town.

He was in fine form, but injured himself in the build up to Luke James putting us in front in the second half with a coolly taken  strike which went in off the base of the left hand post.

Marlon was obviously in a state, but insisted on limping back and remained on the pitch for a good ten minutes when it was obvious to everyone that he couldn't run. He deserved his ovation when he eventaully gave in.

Unfortunately, we also lost Holden to a back injury at the same time and Jack Compton to a hamstring injury. Sweeney, Poole and Dan Jones all coming on - the latter for his debut.

Sweeney played up front and was lively until he too was injured but the shape of the side had gone, and we weren't helped by an uncharacteristic peformance in goal from Scott Flinders.

He'd looked a bit flaky in the first half and then let a free kick from full back Jennings sail over his head and into the corner for the equaliser. Burgess had been judged to have fouled Town's Palmer and received a yellow card. Burgess wasn't imprerssed and appeared to have a rush of blood to the head which lasted until the end of the game.

He was  incenssd when Town's third goal was allowed to stand after an offside player took a swing at the bal at the near post. He failed to connect and the subsequent header gave Mansfield the lead.

Burgess spent the next ten minutes taking every opportunty to berate the linesman and was lucky not to receive another card. He was joined in the "debate" by Barmby but all it achiegved was to furtherr unsettle the Pools  side. So it was no suroprise when Burgess fluffed in midfield and Town added a fourth.

It has to be said ghat this was an  entertaining game with lots of skill and effort. It was helter skelter and it had heroes and villains  but what it lacked was a Paul Murray in Pools midfield to provide a steadying infleunce - in every sense.

Perhaps we can get one in the summer