HARTLEPOOL UNITED F.C. SOUTH EAST POOLIES

Dagenham & Redbridge V Pools Match Report

201 Pools fans made their way to the first ever fixture between the teams hoping that we would be able to keep our record as the team with the fewest away goals conceded in the top 5 levels of English football - a fact mentioned by "Lord" Jeff On Sky Sports. Fortunately he didn't dwell on the fact that we don't score too many either !
 
Despite playing our familiar 4-5-1 formation we didn't get into the game at all in the first half, and we were quite fortunate to get to half time on level terms. Daggers attacked from the start going close on several occasions and it was only due to a mixture of good luck and good defending that our record stayed intact for as long as it did in this game. Good performances from Jake Kean and Sam Collins in particular kept the home team out as we were forced on the defensive for long periods, as we rarely looked like doing anything at the other end. The ageing Tony Roberts in the home goal probably hasn't had too many 45 minutes as easy as this all season as I can't remember a decent shot on their goal before the break. Half time arrived with the Poolie fans relieved that we were still level and the home fans wondering how they weren't in front.
 
Half Time : Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Hartlepool 0

Armann Bjornsson replaced Colin Larkin at half time and Joe Gamble had an early chance but it was the home team that broke through, albeit with a big slice of luck. Ifil was allowed to run towards our goal without anybody making a challenge of any kind and his cross was deflected past Jake Kean by one of our own defenders. A fortunate goal perhaps but on the balance of play just about deserved. Despite our fears about our scoring record away from Victoria Park Pools responded well as Bjornsson's height and physical presence seemed to give the rest of the team a boost. He created several opportunities with nice flicks, and our attacking ideas picked up further when Denis Behan came on for Leon McSweeney. The home team responded with some more quick attacks on the break which we coped with resonably comfortably before Andy Monkhouse went close on two occasions as we pushed for an equaliser. In a taste of things to come the home defence almost gifted us a goal when they hit their own woodwork twice in quick succession.
 
Just as we were starting to accept that it wouldn't be a our day, Jake Kean's long kick wasn't cleared and Gary Liddle's deflected shot crept past Roberts in front of the delirious travelling support to earn us a point that our second half performance merited.

Full Time: Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Hartlepool 1

 Comment :

A battling point but there was lots of warning signs that one day we will quite possibly concede a hatful of goals if we continue to allow the opposition so much possession. While I understand the need to "keep it tight" on our travels we can't rely on the defence to keep us in games, but I think we only need a small change of attitude to play the game a bit further upfield. If the ball is at their end the theory is they can't score at ours!

MOM- Jake Keen
 

Leigh