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We seemed to settle into the game very late and as invetably Pools couldn't keep that tempo we started to create chances however the first one was by a mistake from Hartlepool's defence, we sent Allison in and he was brought down by keeper Jim Provett. Cries of "Don't send him off" and "Just a yellow please Ref" were heard by the referee and he duly gave him a yellow although perhaps a Red was the only answer?
Shinner tucked the resulting penalty away (that's three pens this season I'm sure that is more than Glynn Hurst scored in his time here pens that is!) and we are back in the game. From there we had enough posession to keep Pools at bay, and we went into half time with some optimism.
At the start of the second half Blatherwick had a goal disallowed which from our position was a little difficult to see as the away end is awful (loads of posts restricting you're view) straight after that JCR crossed for The Chief to head back and there was Mark Stallard for his first Town goal instead of against us and it's all square deserved yes!
Then both sides couldn't provide that final ball and is was end to end stuff, as soon as Allison was replaced by N'toya we lost our shape the chief was injured anyway but we missed him at set plays and we gave away needless free kicks and corners, into the last ten minutes we tired (!) and after some superb saves from Muggleton, Hartlepool's Sweeney bagged his hat-trick.
I though that Hartlepool just about deserved three points for their start alone however we may have just deserved a point for getting back in the game. On the discipline side only Mark Stallard got a booking (i think) however guilty of giving away too many set play opportunites which eventually is going to cost you.
We play Stockport on Wednesday followed by Doncaster on Saturday six points required you may ask, Stockport maybe in the bottom four but they won yesterday and we all know how good Rovers are at the moment, let's hope we get six points but we haven't won in five and I'm starting to get worried.
PF