Bentley’s interval outburst stops rot

A HALF-TIME roasting from boss Jim Bentley helped inspire Morecambe to their first point in eight games after this game between two struggling sides ended all square.

After seven straight defeats had seen the Shrimps slump nearer to the bottom two, Bentley admitted he was fuming with his side's poor first-half showing as Hartlepool, desperate for points of their own, dominated the first 45 minutes.

He said: “It isn’t often that I lose my head but I did at half-time, and to be fair to the lads we saw a reaction and were much better in the second half.

“We have had the lads in training every day this week, but you wouldn’t have thought so after the first 45 minutes. We were miles off the pace.

“No-one was taking responsibility and we were making excuses. We didn't get tight and made poor decisions and looked like we felt sorry for ourselves.

“We were much better in the second half, played with more urgency and tempo and asked a few questions and could have won the game in the end as we had a couple of great chances.

“We had to break the cycle after seven straight defeats and it was an important point.”

Former Morecambe striker Padraig Amond fired Hartlepool into the lead on 39 minutes.

Morecambe came back fighting after the break and levelled on 59 minutes when Mullin headed home the crucial loose ball from close range.

And Hartlepool boss Dave Jones was left frustrated after seeing his side fail to make their first-half dominance pay by letting the Shrimps back into the game after the break.

Jones said: “I thought we should have taken three points. We were so dominant and had enough of the game but we got a bit sloppy and were made to pay. We tried to play in some areas and we have to cut that out.

“For the first half hour we showed some great quality and scored an excellent goal but we couldn’t maintain that in the second half and that is where we lack some vital experience which makes all the difference.

“We got in so many times and that extra bit of quality would have made the difference.

“We are trying to add that quality but there were some good things to take away from the performance, and I can’t fault the lads because they worked their socks off.

“We had a great chance to go 2-0 up just before they scored and if we had taken that it would have been game