Shrimps too big for Pools to swallow
MORECAMBE 3 HARTLEPOOL 0
HOPES of an FA Cup run and emulating Lincoln City in using the competition as a platform to earn Pools promotion back to the Football League came to a sudden end.
While the Imps reached the fifth round last season and won the National League, Pools fell behind after only four minutes at Morecambe, and never really recovered as they suffered their biggest defeat of the season.
Pools won at South Shields in the final qualifying round, after coming from behind.
There was no such joy this time.
Despite the home side stuttering in the League Two relegation places and without a goal in four home games, Pools weren’t in contention to win this one.
Just 23 seconds had passed when Pools’ keeper Scott Loach had to dive high and arc an arm out to deny Aaron Wildig.
But he was beaten on five minutes when a crossfield ball fell for Kevin Ellison, and the veteran front man cracked in low from 12 yards.
The Shrimps were bright and lively as Pools struggled to get into gear, grateful for scraps.
They had Liam Donnelly booked for a thunderous challenge on Wildig in midfield as they tried to make a mark on the game.
Ellison then picked up a deep ball in behind left-back Blair Adams. He drove into the area with intent and only a sliding and saving tackle from Adams denied the scorer a second.
Pools started the second half better, looking more promising and, for the first time, enjoying possession.
They did throw some balls into the penalty box from wide, but they came to nothing as noone was able to willing to get into the danger area.
The Shrimps could have gone two-up. Louis Laing was beaten out wide and from Wildig’s cross, Alex Kenyon and Ellison got in each other’s way and the ball was sent over the bar.
Pools almost levelled instantly. Rhys Oates cross was met by Jon Franks and keeper Barry Roche made his first save to push the shot over.
But Pools were two down on 67 minutes.
A rushed Loach clearance was headed on by Rhys Oates and picked up by the home side.
Andrew Fleming was played through the middle by substitute Vadaine Oliver and the midfielder netted low through the legs of Roche.
After a goalmouth scramble, the Shrimps somehow didn’t convert from close range with Ellison eventually caught offside as Pools escaped.
But it was soon three. A low shot from substitute Adam Campbell thumped off the inside of the post, bounced out and hit keeper Loach on the ground before rolling into the net.
In front of 854 away fans in a crowd of little over 2,000, Harrison said: “It’s just disappointing as I hate conceding goals and losing. It’s the first time we have been beaten by more than two. I hate to see it. The third is against the run of play
“It’s a frustrating day, I think the first goal has killed us and have them an advantage. We then have to take more risks and takes the game management away from us.
“If we come back at 0-0 like at Torquay at half-time last week, I felt if we could have rode the first 10 to 15 minutes, the pressure turns on them.
“We lost the game in the first seven minutes by not dealing with their intensity. We didn’t manage it well.’’