Match Report: Hartlepool United 2 Rochdale 0 (From The Northern Echo)

James steals show as Pools end run

8:00am Monday 9th January 2012 in Hartlepool United Match Reports By Nick Loughlin

LUKE James was in demand, talking to the media, clutching his man of the match award and a DVD of the game when his boss had a few words of advice as he left the room.

"Enjoy your night son,'' said Neale Cooper. "And no buying too many sweeties to celebrate.''

The 17-year-old had made his second Hartlepool United start and his fifth appearance, but even if he plays for another 20 years he won't score a finer goal or enjoy the day as much as this one.

From a throw-in he allowed the ball to bounce across his body before unleashing a shot from around 25 yards, which fizzed high into the net.

For James, not yet old enough to buy alcohol, it was more of a wine gum moment than a champagne one.

He was taken off in injury time to a standing ovation, replaced by Ritchie Humphreys. He was making his 500th appearance for Pools and he scored a goal or two of similar quality as a Sheffield Wednesday prospect back in 1996.

But both Cooper and his opposite number Chris Beech, the Rochdale caretaker boss who played and scored freely for Pools in the late 90s, were full of praise for James.

"What a wonderful strike for his goal, superb,'' said Cooper. "We took him off at the end to get a reaction like he did, man of the match, and if he plays like this then people will be sniffing around.

"It's nice to bring young boys through to play for the first team. If people here see him working hard and playing like that, they will back them all the way. That's Hartlepool people, that's what they want to see.''

Beech said: "The second goal was a great one. I told him that as he came off. If he keeps scoring them like that he won't be here too long.''

While James' goal was spectacular, the opener from James Brown was nowhere near as flash, but far more important.

It put Pools ahead at Victoria Park for the first time since September 17. Instead of conceding first, Pools managed to score first.

Sam Collins' long throw wasn't dealt with, Antony Sweeney got in the thick of it and Brown jumped to head the ball over the keeper.

He has shown signs of form in flashes. And Cooper knows a fit Brown could be a major player in the weeks and months ahead.

"James came on and showed something,'' said Cooper.

"A fit and fully functioning James Brown is different class. He has had injuries and has to get mentally stronger from it. Get him fit and what a player.''

Rochdale weren't great by any means, they showed why they are in the bottom four. But similar teams have won at Victoria Park during that miserable run and victory was imperative on Saturday.

Andy Monkhouse had a first-half injury-time header bundled off the line, and Pools had a few chances without being dominant.

They kept pressing, Cooper kept urging them forward and the reward arrived.

There were signs later on, especially, of the confidence returning.

The faith in their own ability hasn't diminished, it's having the belief to express themselves which has been the problem.

Cooper, chief cheerleader and manager, should be the man to bring it back.

"There was some relief in there - big time - and it's nice to see a happy dressing room,'' he admitted.

"I've only been here a week and I can sense the feeling they have had for the last nine games.

"Now there's a good feeling around the place again. We never got close enough at the start of the second half, but delivery from set-plays was good today from either side.''

James, now Pools' youngest-ever goalscorer at 17 years and 64 days, and Jack Baldwin made their mark on the game and Cooper added: "It's nice to bring young boys through to play for the first-team.

"If people here at Hartlepool see them working hard and playing like that, then they will back them all the way.

"If they see a team work as hard as today they will support them. For Luke to come off to that ovation, he will always remember it.

"He must be proud. He's a down-to-earth boy and nothing fazes him.''

MATCHFACTS

Goals:

1-0: Brown (73, bouncing ball in the area saw substitute jump highest to head in)

2-0: James (80, allowed a throw-in to bounce across his body before powerfully striking home from around 25 yards)

Bookings: Widdowson (83, foul); Monkhouse (86, foul)

Referee: James Adcock (Long Eaton): Few complains from either side throughout the game 7

Attendance: 4,663

Entertainment: 3/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3):

7 Flinders: Kept alert and concentrated throughout - as proved with his injury time stop to keep a welcome Victoria Park clean sheet;

6 Austin: Never hid, never went missing and was always involved on the right in a brighter performance than of late

6 Collins: A surprise early return from injury, but showed no signs of trouble in the middle of the back four

8 Hartley: Said in the week he wanted to get back to basics - and he did just that in a no-frills display

7 Horwood: A positive performance as he pressed forward time and time again on the left side;

5 Baldwin: Good start, and came back into the game in the final stages as Pools got a firm grip on things. Another promising display overall.

5 Murray: Taken off in the second-half, but after a typically busy display in the middle

6 Liddle: Showed signs, second-half especially, of getting back to his best on the ball when he saw plenty of possession;

6 Sweeney: Given an advanced role in a front three and, while that checked his runs into the box at times, he never stopped

8 JAMES: Quick, bright and inventive. And scored a stunning goal from distance to seal the win

5 Monkhouse: Cooper felt he could have given more. Dropped deep looking for possession on plenty of occasions.

Subs:

Brown (for Murray 68): A first goal in over a year will do his belief and confidence the world of good 7

Humphreys (for James 90)

ROCHDALE (4-4-2): Kurucz 6; Darby 6 (Tutte 83), Holden 6, Jordan 5, Widdowson 4; Adams 6 (Akpa-Akpro 77), Kennedy 4, Jones 7 Ball 5 (Grimes 77); Ormerod 6, Bogdanovic 4. Subs (not used): Edwards, Holness.

MAN OF THE MATCH

LUKE James - two starts, two man of the match performances and a first goal to treasure