Pools end drought as Robins grounded
IT HAS taken a while, but Hartlepool finally recorded a home league win – and boss Craig Hignett believes it would have been even more comfortable with some clinical finishing.
Not since York City were dispatched in April of last season have Pools won in front of their own fans.
But goals from Lewis Alessandra and Matthew Bates broke their duck and inflicted a first defeat in ten games on the out-ofsorts Robins as Pools halted a run of four League Two games without a win.
Hignett said: “It was excellent. We were all over them from the first 25 minutes.
“It was disappointing we didn’t get a goal, but let them back into it a bit and to score when we did was perfect.
“We settled them down in the changing room because we have scored and conceded too quickly too often this season, but we were determined to see this through.
“We carved them open and had chances with interplay and passing and we have to be ruthless. I was delighted to win 2-0, but if we are really ruthless we get four or five.’’
There was a concern for Pools on 33 minutes when Trevor Carson was forced off injured. After being on the bench for Northern Ireland on Friday evening, the goalkeeper flew back the game. He saved from Harry Pell, spilled the shot but damaged a finger in smothering the follow-up. Adam Bartlett replaced him and he was taken to hospital for treatment.
At the start of the second half Pools were thankful to Bartlett for a fine save. A Pell shot was diverted towards his own goal by Toto Nsiala and the keeper dived to push the ball away one-handed.
Pools were already ahead by then after the outstanding Alessandra curled a shot at goal that diverted in off the head of defender Aaron Downes.
Pools dominated but were let down by a hesitancy to shoot in and around the penalty area. They hit the frame of the goal through Padraig Amond before Bates made sure when he met an Alessandra free-kick to head home.
Robins boss Gary Johnson said: “We were second best. We started slowly and they had momentum.
“They were better than us on the day. I didn’t think we looked at it.
“It was a poor time to concede the opener, a great individual goal from their point of view, but we didn’t have anyone looking like they could score that sort of goal.’’