2004/5 Season Review: November

By Albatross
June 6 2005

Hartlepool United continued to be consistently inconsistent in November 2004; the contrast between home and away form was huge. With a couple of Transfer Requests in as well, we seemed far from a happy ship.

November started with a game in the LDV Trophy, away at Carlisle. Given our poor away run and the fact that Pools were experimenting a bit, not much was expected; it did however give us a chance to see another loan signing for the first time. Lewis Gobern had arrived for a month from Wolves, and came on as a sub - he would start the next game before vanishing, never to be seen again. Meanwhile Nelson was given a chance to redeem himself up front; it was Sweeney though that took us into the next round with the only goal of the game.

THe following Saturday saw Pools take on Doncaster - who proved to be a very stern test indeed. 1-0 down in the first half, it took some inspired goalkeeping from Konstantopoulos, a silly mistake from the Ref - booking Westwood for an arguably sending off offence by Barron, and two late goals by sub Joel Porter to clinch victory. Rovers fans couldn't believe they hadn't won; the rub of the green favoured Pools at home, though the corner was still to be turned on their travels.

The FA Cup first round saw Lincoln visiting Victoria Park, and although it may have looked a potential shock to some Pools did a highly professional job - the score was 3-0, and we never really looking like doing anything other than winning comfortably. Our reward would be another home tie - this time against Aldershot.

While Pools prepared for an away game with Sheffield Wednesday though, one player was on his way out of the club. Andy Jordan's unhappy spell at the club ended by mutual consent, and he moved back down to Bristol. Pools meanwhile turned in yet another poor away display, succumbing 2-0 at Hillsborough. Our away record was getting beyond a joke - in the League, we had now lost seven in a row.

What was making matters worse was that we had other reasons to be concerned as well. The home form was still showing plusses, but all too often the performances belied the results. Another example of this came in the game with Bournemouth; after taking the lead through Westwood, Pools went in at the break 2-1 down; and only a late flurry of action saw Pools again claim victory. First of all Nelson grabbed an equaliser with two minutes to play; then sub Andy Appleby seemed to score despite being fouled by Neil Moss in the Cherries goal, only for the Ref to award a Penalty - and not even book the keeper. Boyd promptly missed the spot kick, but another opportunity came when Pools were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box: Bournemouth, victims of a Strachan free kick the previous year, put a man on each post - only for the Pools midfielder to calmly play the ball to youth teamer Appleby, taking advantage of the men on the line to hover onside on the six yard line, who slotted home.

Pools seemed to be far from a happy ship though. Nelson was trying to build bridges again after Hull decided they didn't want to pay Pools the going rate for his services; and Jack Ross also handed in a transfer request at the end of the month, citing homesickness. Robertson was still missing with his foot problem, Clark had been injured too, and Barron was having to play through the pain barrier. And another away defeat to Oldham - this time in the LDV Trophy at the end of the month - didn't augur well either. However, things were about to change.