2003/4 Season Review: Sparkling September

By Albatross
June 1 2004

If August had been a good month to be a Hartlepool United fan, September was in many ways even better. Our most convincing win in decades was only part of it....

If August had seen Pools get off to a good start, September was to see the team hitting even greater heights. First up was a game against Oldham that was being touted as possibly the last in their history; a 0-0 draw was the result. Little did we know what was to follow the very next week.

Friday 12th September was to send a wakeup call to sides throughout the division that Pools were not to be taken lightly. Grimsby hadn't been pulling up too many trees following their relegation and were knocking around in mid-table; Pools restored Eifion Williams to the side on the right, and ran riot. It was one of those nights where Pools scored pretty much every chance they had, and come the end of the evening we'd recorded our biggest victory in decades after humiliating the Mariners 8-1. We were well and truly on the map now.

Victory at Stockport in the next game saw things get even better - Gabbiadini's winner meant that not only did Carlton Palmer get the sack following the game, but we were now up to second in the table after eight games. Only Port Vale had more points, and although it was developing into something of a bunch sprint we had what was on paper an easy game with Brentford to try and stay ahead of the pack.

A couple more players headed out for loan spells; young Goalkeeper Kevin Duncan to Spennymoor, the prelude to a permanent departure, and also Kevin Henderson, initially on loan to already struggling Carlisle. Hendo had started against Bristol City before being withdrawn at half time, and had taken one of the penalties that helped knock out Sheffield Wednesday: but with Williams, Gabbiadini and Robinson all scoring goals - Robinson had already notched seven - he was finding it increasingly difficult to even get on the bench.

The Brentford game proved to be a huge let-down. Pools never really got going, and after Tinkler had equalised an early goal just before half time we didn't rally and ended up losing 2-1. Cooper was far from happy, and left the players - and the fans - in doubt of that!

The next game for Pools was the Carling Cup second round game with West Bromwich Albion. The Baggies were firm favourites, but Pools took the game to them and deservedly took the lead through a Paul Robinson penalty on the stroke of half-time - his eighth goal of the season. Pools looked comfortable enough until Chris Westwood was sent off in controversial circumstances; West Brom scored from the resulting Free Kick and then went on to score the winner as Pools had to pull Tinkler into the defence. This would in fact turn out to be the only occasion over the whole season where a Pools Player saw red.

With Carling Cup interest over, it was back to the league. An unimpressive 0-0 draw with Brighton though had a few people questioning Cooper's selection policy: Humphreys and Williams had been asked to play as wing backs. Doubts were soon forgotten though, as Darrell Clarke notched twice as we beat Wrexham 2-0 to end the month in a highly creditable 4th place. People were telling us that the bubble would burst - and Poolies were having a hard time keeping their feet on the ground. October would show though that we were a way away from being the finished article just yet.