Cup Reflections - Pools through to Round 4

By Albatross
January 20 2005

Hartlepool United are into Round 4 for the first time in over a decade - the next question is whether we can get to Round 5 for the first time in our history. Cup Success, Playoffs looking very possible again - has there ever been a better time to be a Poolie?

There were a number of positives to come out of last night, not least of which is of course the win itself; Boston have done pretty well at home this season although admittedly they have now been knocked out of all three cup competitions on their own ground, and a victory - no matter how narrow - is not to be sneezed at.

That the victory was achieved without a couple of the regular starting eleven is even more satisfying. The absence of Porter and Williams through illness and injury respectively meant that we had to start with one youth teamer up front in Appleby and another two on the bench in Istead and Wilkinson, while Ben Clark showed his versatility by playing on the right side of midfield. Pools defence stood firm despite heavy pressure, and stopped Andy Kirk - who has one of the best goal per game ratios of any forward this season - from hitting the net.

Steve Evans is feeling rather hard done by, with most of his unhappiness seeming to be focussed on the offside decision that ruled out the "goal" that Boston thought they had scored in stoppage time; the Assistant Ref though had flagged very early, and so had few doubts.

So instead of visiting Hull a week on Saturday it's a trip down to Griffin Park. Tickets are already on sale to Season Ticket Holders - everyone else will have to wait until Tuesday - as we try and reach Round 5 for the first time in our history. It won't be easy of course - Brentford have already beaten us on their own patch this season, albeit in a game Pools should have taken at least a point from, and will probably start as favourites.

The game against Hull will probably now have to be shifted into March, although given how long it took to rearrange the Luton game we'll probably have to wait a while to find out. This is the negative side of our cup run - we've not suffered much with postponements over the last couple of seasons, but now may face something of a fixture pile-up as we try and juggle our cup campaign and Playoff challenge. Not that there will be too many people complaining about that - after all, this side could be about to advance further in the FA Cup than any Pools team has previously managed, and could yet be playing in Division 1 next season. The best Pools team ever? The evidence is mounting up.....