Hartlepool United Season Review 2002/3 - September

By Albatross
May 13 2003

September was memorable for a number of reasons if you were a Hartlepool United fan. The Pools Online review of our Promotion Season continues here....

September started off with a draw away to Swansea, but it was the next couple of games that were attracting attention. The Worthington Cup game against Tranmere could potentially lead to an interesting encounter between Gordon Watson and the player he had successfully sued following his horrific leg break: Kevin Gray.

After much speculation, Flash was left on the bench and didn't face Gray. Pools went down 2-1 at the Vic, losing out to a late "wonder goal" from Tranmere youngster Ryan Taylor. Chris Turner was not exactly pleased with the performance of the Referee, and in the eyes of most Poolies he had a point.

Then it was on to the Derby Day game with Darlington. As usual, fans on both sides were keen to talk up their chances, and so were some of the players. Pools seemed to have more room for optimism - we were after all lying second in the table. In the event it turned out to be a game to remember for a number of reasons.

Playing 4-4-2, Pools dominated for long spells. An early goal from Eifion was equalised against the run of play, with Ian Clark claiming the goal, but Eifion soon put us ahead again. Humphreys scored on the hour, and the 4-1 scoreline was finished off by Tinkler to give Pools their biggest Derby victory for over 40 years - and to put us on top of the table. It was to be Boxing Day before we vacated the top spot.

It wasn't all good though: with about 10 minutes left, Gordon Watson and Matt Clarke both went for the ball, and Flash came out of the challenge with a broken leg - fortunately not the one that had caused him all the problems before. There was no talk of it being deliberate - Watson himself said as much shortly after - and the prognosis was that we'd be without him until Christmas. That turned out to be somewhat optimistic....

Meanwhile, there were other matches to be played. Adam Boyd found himself trying to fill Flash's shoes, and started brilliantly: he and Eifion both scored against Lincoln to earn us another victory, and then followed up with the equalising goal against Bury before scoring in his third successive game to put us ahead against Rushden. Unfortunately it was not enough to earn us the three points, as the Diamonds came back in the second half to win the game. Pools should really have made it safe before the break, and although we didn't know it at the time our failure to do so was to cost us dear at the end of the season.

As the month drew to a close, rumours began circulating that CT had a forward lined up to join Pools. As the beginning of October was to prove, they were correct.