Pools given non-league reality check HARTLEPOOL 0 DOVER ATH 1
WELCOME TO the National League.
After the trauma of relegation, Pools have done their very best to rebuild the club.
But to mark the start of the season there was a return to the Pools of old as they lost their opener in new surroundings.
For all their changes made in recent months, the first half especially had an all-too-familiar feel to it.
Pools failed to make much headway going forward, were on the end of some lucky escapes and conceded a soft goal.
The only goal proved a decisive one as Dover’s Jamie Allen – a danger throughout – had time and space in the penalty area to turn and fire an angled shot past keeper Scott Loach.
Pools were poor in the opening 45 minutes, as they gave a disjointed display.
They did improve after the break as they changed formation and found a willing strike partner for Padraig Amond in Jake Cassidy, but they still fell short.
Dover, play-off hopefuls last season, showed what the division is all about as they were big, strong and organised from start to finish.
As Pools pressed for a late leveller, the Whites chucked bodies in front of the ball to ensure an opening-day victory.
Boss Craig Harrison, a manager not used to losing after six seasons of continued success with TNS in the League of Wales, admitted: “It’s pretty disappointing, that’s an understatement.
“We wanted a good start and haven’t.
“First half was very cagey in general as both sides didn’t settle down, second half was better and we probably deserved something.
“We knew what the opposition were about – physical, athletic and dynamic. We did alright first 20 then could have played more and got hold of the ball in the way we wanted.’’
He added: “Second half we moved it better, moved them around the pitch better and made them think a bit more.
“It just didn’t happen in the end.’’
Amond had the first opening after 13 minutes, as he swept a low volley into keeper Mitch Walker from a corner.
But as the home side struggled to find any rhythm as they were harassed all over the park, Allen scored when Pools failed to move out as a unit when they cleared a corner, and a weak offside line was broken.
It could have been worse, but former Pools loanee Ryan Bird headed a cross high and wide from dangerman Allen, who was giving left-back Liam Donnelly a torrid afternoon.
Pools changed formation at the break, swapping to a 4-4-2 from 4-3-3 as Harrison introduced two substitutes.
It worked to a certain extent as they started to exert some pressure on the massed ranks of visiting defenders, and the crowd started to show some appreciation for their efforts.
But the visitors still had the best chance. Allen again crossed and Kane Richards met the ball eight yards out, but fired high over.
A short corner from Pools saw Rhys Oates cross to the far post and Amond looked set to bundle the ball home before Josh Passley cleared under pressure.
Lewis Hawkins fired into keeper Walker from 20 yards, before defender Louis Laing did the same.
And Pools had a big penalty appeal knocked back in injury time as Amond was bundled over in the area.