Report: Oldham Athletic 2 Hartlepool United 1

Scorer
By Albatross
January 1 2006

Eifion Williams scored for the third game on the spin, but Hartlepool United still fell to a New Year's Eve defeat to Oldham Athletic. And Pools can't have too many complaints about the result either - the margin could and possibly should have been greater.

Apparently away fans have the best area of the ground at Boundary Park. At least, that's the justification for charging them more than home fans - £22 if (like me) you couldn't get hold of a ticket in advance, while most home fans pay £2 less, or if you're prepared to suffer the elements, just £16 to sit in an uncovered area. It seems that the lack of pillars is what allows them to charge us more despite it usually being considered that the best seats are towards the half way line of a ground rather than behind one goal. Then again, it's not easy to find home fans that will campaign to reduce the prices for away supporters... a combination of the price and Pools form meant that the turnout was sparse - less than 250, and about 300 less than turned up two years previously to secure a 2-0 win.

Pools lined up with Barron back in the fold at right back, Brackstone on the other flank, and Humphreys moving into midfield in place of the injured Butler. On the bench, Gavin Strachan and Lee Bullock joined Darren Williams, Jon Daly and Jim Provett.

Oldham kicked off towards the Pools fans, and forced a corner after a minute that Dimi claimed easily before setting Brackstone away down the left; he played the ball through for Llewellyn, who won a throw that Humphreys took long towards Nelson, his header being cleared for a Pools corner that lead to another before being cleared.

Barron blocked a Beckett shot on 5 minutes, the corner being cleared to Warne who put his effort weakly wide. On 7 minutes Eifion went for a through-ball with his foot up, accidentally catching Stam who needed treatment - it was obvious from Eifion's reaction it was unintentional though and no card was shown. Oldham pressed forward from the free kick, a cross from the left reaching Liddell - only for Dimi to save from close range. Collins blocked the effort on the rebound before Sweeney completed the clearance - a let off for Pools.

Collins put a shot wide following a Humphreys corner on 11 minutes, but after that Oldham started knocking the ball about better and although there was no end product they were keeping the ball better than Pools.

Brackstone needed treatment on 17 minutes following a Pools corner: after the first two crosses were blocked, he raced in to challenge and came off worst. Pools were getting forward a bit, but once again seemed to lack ideas in the final third and seemed to be mainly looking to win corners and long throws for Humphreys to try a set-piece delivery from. Meanwhile Collins was showing why he'll be missed with some quality defending, getting in ahead of the Oldham forwards on several occasions. On the half hour though he was finally beaten to the punch by Warne - but as he chipped the ball across the area Dimi used his height to full advantage to claim the cross with Beckett lurking.

Oldham probably should have gone ahead on 34 minutes: Brackstone tried to intercept a throughball but missed it completely, leaving Liddell in the clear; his low cross from the right found Beckett close in, but fortunately for Pools the ball hit his body as he arrived at the near post and went behind for a goal kick. Oldham continued to put Pools under pressure, and their reward finally arrived on 37 minutes. Brackstone made another mistake, and Liddell was away again; he drew Dimi out before selflessly sliding the ball to his left for BECKETT to roll the ball into an empty net.

Two minutes later Brackstone again made an error that saw the ball reach Hughes in the box - but Pools managed to c rowd him out before he could get a shot in. A minute later Beckett shot just over from the edge of the box. On 40 minutes Liddell again got clear down the right with Brackstone nowhere, his cross almost finding Beckett again. It was Dimi's turn to make a mistake two minutes later, slipping as he tried to clear the ball to leave it at the feet of Beckett; however he recovered well to make a smothering save, following which Beckett tried a speculative dive to try and save his blushes that won nothing except maybe a 7.5 from the Swedish judge.

Half time arrived, and the mood in the away end was gloomy. Brackstone had looked a liability, especially since needing treatment; Pools hadn't really looked like creating anything, while with a bit sharper finishing the home side could well have been a couple more goals to the good. Scott had to change things, and it was something of a relief when it was announced that Brackstone had been replaced: Daly came on, with Llewellyn switching to the wing and Humphreys to full-back.

The first attack of the second half saw Pools win a corner on the right; Clarke flicked on at the near post, but the ball was cleared. The home side were soon back on the attack though, a couple of dangerous crosses coming in before Collins fouled Beckett on 48 minutes, right of centre and about 20 yards out. Liddell's free kick found Dimi who made the save.

Pools were starting to show some better play sporadically, but as so often recently the final ball was either nowhere near good enough or simply not appearing at all. Oldham meanwhile looked much more threatening, and it was little surprise when they extended their lead. Warne was set free down the right, beat Humphreys with ease, and cut inside before sending in a cross to the far post; LIDDELL saw his first effort saved by Dimi, but the Pools keeper couldn't do much to stop the former Wigan forward slotting home the rebound.

On 61 minutes a Pools free kick on the right touchline was cleared upfield, and only a good saving challenge from Barron prevented one of the Oldham forwards from getting clear again.

At long last Pools started to press forward with some real intent. On 63 minutes came our best move of the game so far; some great play from Llewellyn out wide allowed him to swing the ball across to Clarke, who passed the ball on to Eifion, seeing his shot saved for a corner. Before it was taken Pools made their remaining substitutions; Darren Williams replaced Mickey Barron, while Ben Clark made way for Gavin Strachan. The corner was headed behind by Sweeney.

Overall Pools were simply not keeping the ball on the ground enough - all too often we seemed to be trying to launch it up to Daly, who wasn't doing too much with it. Creativity was at a premium, and it didn't look like Pools could unlock the home defence.

Until that is Mickey Nelson took a hand in proceedings on 74 minutes. A Pools attack broke down, but Nelson won the ball back in the centre circle with a good challenge. Possibly having thought the danger was clear the defence were caught napping when Nelse played a superb ball through the middle to the left hand edge of the box, right to the feet of EIFION WILLIAMS who controlled, checked inside onto his right foot, and unleashed a well-placed if none too powerful shot that crept in off the far post. A good finish from Eifion - the placement was spot on - that showed once again that his best position is up front.

Pools were now in the ascendency, and went looking for the equaliser. A long throw from Humphreys caused havoc on 76 minutes before being cleared; a minute later Pools produced a great move, Daly nodding the ball down to Eifion before the Welshman put the ball into the path of the advancing Sweeney, whose first-time shot forced a good save from Day. Suddenly Pools were showing the commitment and fight that had been so sadly lacking for the first 70-odd minutes.

Pushing forward meant leaving gaps at the back though, with Dimi having to make a save from Liddell on 83 minutes; then a great run from Humphreys was ended just outside the area by a foul by Hughes. Strachan crossed from the set piece, but the ball skimmed Daly's head and went behind for a goal kick. Pools, for all their fire for those few minutes, still had to be on their tes at the back; with normal time almost up Nelson fouled Wellens 20 yards out in the left channel, Liddell forcing a good save from Dimi.

The four minutes added time produced only one point of note for Pools fans: Strachan tried an ambitious cross/shot from the left that Day claimed comfortably. The final whistle was greeted with some relief by the home fans (one of whom had tried to delay Richie taking a throw by not giving the ball back) but Pools to be honest got what they deserved from this game - nothing.

Oldham were the better side until Pools scored, and could easily have been three or four ahead by the time Eifion finally got sight of goal. They looked far more dangerous, and with Liddell and Warne providing chances for Beckett they certainly should have scored more. Pools didn't look competitive for much of the match, took until well over an hour gone to start testing the home keeper, and to put it bluntly looked like a side set for a struggle. There's no confidence, no belief in the side - and precious little amongst the fans from what I heard around me. The only chant of the match came in the second half and was brief in the extreme - no-one felt like singing, the Oldham goals were greeted with a sort of inevitability, and even when Eifion scored I think we all knew it was just a brief respite. So much for a Happy New Year.