Report: Hartlepool United 2 Tranmere Rovers 0

By Albatross
May 14 2005

About time too! In their ninth game in the Playoffs, Hartlepool United have recorded their first win. A 2-0 scoreline may make us favourites in some eyes, but there's still a tricky game at Prenton Park to negotiate before we can start booking for Cardiff.

Scott decided to bring back Club Skipper Mickey Barron at Right Back, but beyond that there were no changes to the starting lineup; that did however leave us with a very strong looking bench of Provett, Clark, Tinkler, Butler and Porter. As expected Tranmere recalled the likes of McAteer, Taylor and Roberts.

John Orley was certainly on form, announcing that one track was especially for the visiting supporters - the track in question being "The Wanderer", which given their animosity with Bolton was a cheeky little number!

Tranmere kicked off towards the Town End, and pumped a long ball forward for Taylor to chase - but too far for the wing-back, with the ball going out for a goal kick.

Pools were soon showing their stuff, winning a throw on the left; Richie's long throw was cleared, but the ball was worked back to Robson, who went on a dangerous run into the box that saw him just fail to get a cross in - but win a corner. The flag kick wasn't well cleared, and Boyd sent a goal-bound shot in that Jackson had to get in the way of; from the rushed clearance Nelson tried his luck from 20 yards but sent the ball well wide.

Pools continued to probe for an opening, and on 6 minutes Boyd tried to tee up Sweeney; however his effort from distance was comfortably off target.

The first yellow card was shown on 9 minutes, and Tranmere could hardly complaun about it; Robson was breaking out of defence when Hume caught up with him and made a clumsy tackle that fully deserved a booking. Two minutes later Pools looked to have a great opportunity when a long through-ball sent Daly away; Achterberg came well out of his area to attempt the tackle, Daly went down, the ball spooned away across the goal-line - but the decision was not a free kick, or even a corner but a goal kick. To be fair it had looked something of a 50-50 challenge, but Achterberg was possibly a little fortunate not to be penalised.

Pools were chasing every ball, not giving Tranmere any space or time and it was paying off; they were struggling to get going, while the Boyd-inspired Pools attack looked incisive. He was orchestrating things on 13 minutes, winning the ball on the left and then playing the ball across to Eifion - the Welshman cut in, but his attempted through-ball was dealt with comfortably enough by Achterberg.

A nothing free kick on 15 minutes threatened the Pools defence briefly, but the extra presence of Jon Daly meant he was on hand to head Roberts kick well clear. Pools were soon back on the attack, probing down the left and knocking the ball about with confidence prior to winning another corner; the short corner routine though didn't result in a good delivery from Strachan. The ball wasn't properly cleared though and Boyd's cross from the flank saw Williams trying a spectacular scissors kick that instead collected the oncoming Goodison for a free kick.

Tranmere's first real shot of note came on 20 minutes; Hume tried his luck from 20 yards out, but sent his effort comfortably over the bar. Our opponents were really struggling to play against the Pools defence; they were simply out-worked, with none of them ever given the time on the ball to set up a killer pass. This was to be far from the only long shot from the away team.

Pools attacked again, this time down the right, and Daly got in a good cross that Achterberg punched unconvincingly at; Pools continued to press, but were havign trouble of their own creating shooting opportunities.

Robson was next to try his luck on 25 minutes, his shot from distance though was blocked away. Daly was trying to collect in his own half when Jackson went in a bit too hard and made it into the Ref's notebook. Almost immediately Eifion Williams followed him for what to be honest looked to be a fairly innocuous attempt at challenging Achterberg.

Tranmere were still finding the Pools defence in mean mood, and were finding themselves restricted to long-range efforts. Whitmore was next to try his hand at one on 27 minutes, but scuffed his 20 yard effort and the fairly tame shot went well wide in any case. Pools then almost made trouble for themselves, with Nelson trying to be a bit too clever and allowing Hall to rob him; Hall's cross though couldn't find a colleague and Williams cleared.

Pools were chasing every ball, and Daly was doing plenty up front to repay Martin Scott's faith in him. One such chase on 30 minutes saw him pressuring on the right flank, forcing a throw in. Humphreys came across to take it, and launched it into the penalty area; Daly headed down superbly, and BOYD rifled home to open the scoring. It was a goal we had deserved.

Tranmere looked like they wanted to hit back, but didn't know quite how. A Roberts cross on 33 minutes may have been dangerous - but Dimi simply came out and plucked it out of the air. Pools broke down the left, Boyd got a cross in that laid things on a plate for Daly - who promptly missed when he shoul at least have got the ball on target.

Tranmere did start to pressurise more as the half drew to a close, but again were finding it hard to create anything clear cut. Hall shot wide from outside the area, and Whitmore managed a more accurate effort that though lacked the power to get past Dimi. Rovers finally did get the ball in the net in stoppage time - but Rankine was standing well offside when the ball was played and the goal was ruled out.

Tranmere started the second half looking more like a side that wanted it, and the first fifteen minutes or so after the break saw them putting Pools under plenty of pressure. Nelson and Westwood were looking very solid at the back though, and indeed it was Pools that had the chance to create an opening on 48 minutes when Boyd was taken down wide on the right. Strachan's cross though was too close to Achterberg and the keeper claimed it comfortably. He then sent Rovers on a quick break that saw Nelson blocking a shot from McAteer. The corner that followed was missed by Dimi who was attempting to punch, but seemed to evade everyone else as well on the way out for a goal kick.

Tranmere were still struggling to get into the Pools box though, and had to rely on longer distance efforts from first of all Hume and then after that was blocked Roberts that failed to trouble Dimi.

Pools were continuing to harry their opponents though, and it almost paid off on the hour mark. Nelson intercepted a wayward attempt at a crossfield ball in midfield, advanced on goal and then picked out Boyd on the right flank; in turn, Boyd then beat his man before putting in a low cross for Nelson, who saw his shot blocked away at close range before Achtrerberg collected the loose ball.

Pools made the first change of the night on 63 minutes; Daly, who'd had a storming first half but had been quieter after the break, made way for Player of the Season Joel Porter. Within minutes, he'd helped Pools go further ahead; from the right flank he passed the ball to Boyd, who cut across towards the left before unleashing a superb 20 yard shot with his left foot that gave Achterberg no chance at all - another quality goal by Boydie, and his 29th strike of the season.

Pools continued to limit Tranmere's opportunities to efforts from distance, with Taylor shooting over from the right edge of the box on 69 minutes - Dimi looked to have it covered; and Dimi claimed a goal-bond header that looked like it may have come from Nelson from a McAteer corner on 73 minutes - but it was Pools that almost went further ahead on 76 minutes. Matty Robson went on a superb run from his own half, heading towards goal, and was pulled back by McAteer just over 20 yards out. After a bit of a delay while Pools seemed to be trying to decide on their options, Robson himself tried a strike that had power and looked to be heading into the top corner until Achterberg made a quality save to keep his side's hopes alive. Nelson headed Strachan's corner wide.

Tranmere needed to chase the game, and tried to do so first by introducing Dadi for Whitmore, and then Beresford for Hall. Pools though were not just sitting back, and some good work from Sweeney on the right flank allowed him to get in a low cross that Achterberg reached not far ahead of Porter; and after a shot from Taylor from a free kick went well wide and high of the goal on 85 minutes, Pools had another chance themselves when a cross from Williams that was too deep instead broke to the on-rushing Matty Robson; from 30 yards though Robbo put his striker a couple of yards over the bar.

With time running out Pools had reason to be grateful for Dimi's reactions on 89 minutes. Dadi collected the ball in the box, made himelf some space and then saw his shot beaten away by the Pools keeper; when the ball was played back in to Dadi he managed more power on his effort but much less accuracy, shooting well wide of the far post.

After an agonising three minutes of stoppage time the final whistle brought proceedings to a close, and allowed mass rejoicing to start in the Poolie ranks. A lap of honour to the strains of "Never Say Die" and "Two Little Boys" added to the celebration.

Martin Scott was quick to point out though that this is still a job only half done. Tranmere are by no means out of this tie, and Scott knows that for all tonight's celebrations he has to keep the players - and to an extent the fans - focussed on Tuesday Night's match. For the moment though it's time to enjoy our first ever victory in a Playoff match - can we add to our collection next week?