Comfortable win as Pools give youth a chance

By Albatross
July 21 2004

Hartlepool United went to the ground where we play most of our Reserve Games with a side that matched that billing - but still had a comfortable 4-0 victory to celebrate. It's next stop Scotland for Neale Cooper and his players.

There are already Pics from the game available on Frank Reid's site - check out our Links page.

With a team that started off as a young side and got younger as the game went on, last night may not have told us much about the makeup of the first team this season - but did show that the future is looking bright in terms of our youth setup. David Foley and Michael Maidens both netted, we finshed the game with no less than seven youth players on the pitch - and three others in Craddock, Robson and Brackstone that only signed their first deal last season. Ryan McCann must have felt like a veteran - at the age of 21, he was the oldest Pools player on the pitch at the final whistle.

The opposition may not have been exactly top notch, but Billingham Town did finish in the top 6 in the Northern League last season and to beat them as comprehensively as Pools did with what amounts to an u21 side with a smattering of more senior pros shows something for the strength we are developing in the youth system. Jack Ross has made his first appearance in Pools colours - a steady 45 minutes before he was withdrawn - and Darrell Clarke's two goals made a case for his inclusion in his preferred central midfield role.

So now it's off to Scotland for the players as they travel to the Highlands to take on Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross COunty before returning closer to home to take on Berwick. There's still no news of definate signings, but one player who has been spotted training with the squad is former Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Scotland winger Allan Johnston. Johnston was playing International Football less than two years ago, but has been the forgotten man at Middlesbrough - he failed to make a single senior appearance last season. There were rumours that Division 1 side Rotherham were talking to him a few weeks ago, but at the moment he remains without a club.

Injuries are already becoming something of a concern, with the news that Mickey Barron is still struggling to recover from his Hernia operation and is highly unlikely to make the trip to Scotland. With Chris Westwood playing through the pain barrier at the moment, Darren Craddock may well find himself with an opportunity to establish himself at right back, or Jack Ross could fill in there - as he did last night.