Hartlepool United looking to break two records

By Albatross
February 14 2003

Hartlepool United take on York with the opportunity to extend their lead to 13 points - and to break a couple of long-standing records in the process. Will we manage it?

Pools have lost every game they've played on live TV; and you've got to go a long way back for their last win at Bootham Crescent. In fact, you have to go back to 1988/9 season, when we beat them 3-2 in September 1988. Since then, we have failed to win in six attempts in the league, two in the LDV, and one in the FA Cup. Even during our last promotion year, we only managed a 0-0 draw. This hardly looks good for Pools, and when you consider that York are currently 6th in the table and unbeaten in their last five games it looks even worse.

York are of course going through a severe financial crisis, and only an injection of cash from their Supporters Trust kept the club in business a few weeks ago, while negotiations take place to sell the club; and the situation with Bootham Crescent, which former Chairman Douglas Craig transferred to a holding company before selling the team, is as clear as mud. As a result, York are struggling to pay the wages and have recently suffered the loss of a couple of key players. Alan Fettis, one of the most respected keepers in the division, has left to join Hull, while former Darlington striker Peter Duffield - York's leading scorer with 15 goals - has joined Boston.

There are two ways that a team can react to this sort of thing, and in York's case Terry Dolan has managed to get the team to pull together. Michael Ingham has come in on loan from Sunderland and will start in goal, Anthony Shandran has also joined on loan from Burnley and is likely to start in attack.

Likely to be joining the Burnley striker up front is sometime Pools Trialist Jon Parkin - and at 6'4" he would certainly give the Pools defence a hard time. Parkin has scored eight times this season, despite spending part of his time in the centre of defence. If York are chasing the game or pressing for a goal, don't be surprised to see him pushed forward if he is chosen at the back.

Dolan seems to have opted to play a 3-5-2 system in recent games, and if he does the same for this game then Mark Tinkler and Tommy Widdrington will have to work hard in the middle. On the other hand, there may well be more space on the flanks for Pools to exploit, and with Humphreys and Clarke both looking bang in form recently hopefully we can make the most of it.

Mike Newell now has the sort of selection headache that most managers at this level must dream of. Eifion Williams is now free of suspension, and with Gordon Watson and Paul Smith both coming through another reserve game this week, we have almost a full squad to choose from. Incredible as it may seem, last season's two most influential players are struggling even to get on the bench! Watson has though told the Official Site that he still isn't ready for action, and taken the opportunity to deny the multitude of rumours about fallings out at the club.

Eifion Williams may well return, but with Boyd scoring against Exeter, and Henderson making an immediate impression as a sub in that game and scoring a brace for the reserves, it's almost a stage of perm any two from four up front - five if Easter is included. I suspect it's most likely to be Eifion and Richardson, but won't be too surprised if I'm wrong.

With Rushden not playing this weekend, Pools have a great opportunity to extend their lead even further; but make no mistake, this game looks as tough as any between now and the end of the season. I'd settle for a draw, and so that's what I'll predict: 1-1, with Clarke to add to his tally.

Don't forget too that if you aren't going to York, the Youth Team will be playing Darlington at the Vic, kickoff 3pm, with a win securing Martin Scott's lads top spot in their section of the Youth Alliance.