Pools claim first win in eight

HARTLEPOOL United last night finally got the victory they craved, leaving manager Chris Turner relieved and full of praise for his players.

Pools recorded their first win in eight, taking a first three-point haul of the year thanks to a opening 45 minutes as inventive and rewarding as they have managed in months.

Ritchie Jones scored twice, Joe Gamble and Antony Sweeney once each, as the visitors were brushed confidently aside.

“It’s a great feeling, very pleasing,’’ said Turner. “The players deserved it – the last six, seven games have been tough.

“I said we have put in good displays against the so-called elite clubs. Worryingly we didn’t get results and I feared confidence might seep away.

“It’s the first time we have played a team around us in a while, and gave a positive performance.

We could have had six or seven.

“Ritchie Jones has confidence right now, two good goals and some good displays.

We put strong blocks in and Roy O’Donovan gave us real pace up front, which we haven’t had all season. He gave a new dimension and could be a big asset for us this season.’’ Six minutes in and Pools were off to a flyer. Peter Hartley’s thumping ball from deep found Jones, he turned Peter Murphy and lobbed home.

But it didn’t last long, Matty Robson, back on his old stomping ground, crossed and Scott Dobie headed in from close range.

The goal proved how brittle confidence is at Victoria Park.

Clearances were slashed at, balls not cleared and panic appeared to be setting in.

Darryl Duffy, Carlisle’s other Pools old-boy clipped an effort across Scott Flinders and, much to Pools’ relief, across goal.

The Cumbrians were looking sharper than Pools; it didn’t look like an easy night for the home side and there’s been far too many of those this season.

But the complexion changed on 28 minutes as Gamble’s corner was met by Sweeney to put Pools ahead.

With the goal came confidence, belief and plenty of chances to add to the tally.

Adam Boyd’s header was saved by Adam Collin, one of the few efforts the keeper managed to get his hands on and Sweeney stretched to head across goal from an angle.

Pools, with O’Donovan’s pace adding something to the attacks after the forward yesterday signed on loan from Sunderland, and Boyd’s passing radar tuned in, were fluent.

O’Donovan has hardly played this season, but showed no signs of rustiness on his debut, with his movement causing constant problems.

A delightful ball from Hartley was met by Jones and his deft lob sailed over Collin and onto the bar, then Boyd turned a Sam Collins cross over from close range.

Four minutes before the break, Gamble made it three.

His corner from the right, the opposite flank from which he created Sweeney’s goal, curled straight in at the near post, with Collin flapping.

It was his first goal for Pools, coming on the day his old club, Cork City, ceased to exist after being wound-up.

Colin Larkin warmed the keeper’s hands on the hour mark, shooting from distance and at the other end, Flinders made a fine stop to keep out a trademark Ian Harte free-kick from 25 yards.

James Brown was given a 30 minute outing, but it was surprisingly at the expense of the impressive Boyd.

The game was finished off on 75 minutes, O’Donovan’s pass into space behind the defence saw Jones break away from halfway, and after taking two good touches in his stride, drilled confidently home to lift Pools three points and five places above the bottom four.

Matchfacts

Goals: Jones (6, 1-0; 74, 4-1); Dobie (10, 1-1); Sweeney (28, 3-1); Gamble (41, 4-1)
Bookings: Hurst (26, foul); Livesey(86, foul)
Referee: Colin Webster (Shotley Bridge) 7
Attendance: 2,975
Entertainment: ✰✰✰

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2): Flinders 7; Austin 6, Collins 6, Liddle 6, Hartley 7; Jones 8, SWEENEY 8 , Gamble 7, Larkin 6 (Humphreys 71), O’- Donovan 7 (McSweeney 82), Boyd 8 (Brown 60, 6). Subs (not used): Cook (gk), Behan, Fredriksen, Bjornsson.

CARLISLE UNITED (4-4-2): Collin 3; KEOGH 6, Livesey 5, Harte 5, Murphy 4 (Horwood 58, 5); Hurst 6 (Marshall 65), Thirlwell 5 (Taiwo 58, 5), Clayton 6, Robson 5; Dobie 6, Duffy 5. Subs (not used): Gillespie (gk), Bridge-Wilkinson, Kavanagh, Kane.

MAN OF THE MATCH
ANTONY Sweeney - when Pools were running riot in the first-half, he was at the heart of it all