DAVIES AT THE DOUBLE
Two-goal captain fires Pools
HARTLEPOOL UNITED 2 BOREHAM WOOD 0
CAPTAIN Andrew Davies headed Hartlepool United back into the National League top six with a clinical double to down Boreham Wood – and he might even had a hat-trick!
The experienced centre-half bagged his first goals for the club to end a run of three successive home draws for imprving Pools, while stretching the visitors’ losing run to four games in the process.
“Andrew is a quality player, we have done well to get him to come and play here,” said delighted Pools’ assistant boss Ged McNamee.
“He gets there for set-pieces and we have worked on them. He is dominant in the air and it’s pleasing to get two – he could even have had three.
“He’s a great character around the place, experienced and drove the side on. He wins the ball, encourages others and we worked off him.’’
McNamee added: “It’s a perfect day, a tough game, they make it hard for you – physical and direct and play on the second ball. We were aware of that and we have to match it, and we did that.
“We played a bit less, got the ball forward earlier and came away with a result.’’
When Pools had the ball in the visiting penalty area for the first time, on 25 minutes, they went close three times in the same attack.
From Luke James’ cross, Mark Kitching’s close-range finish was kept out by the legs of keeper Ellery Balcombe. Liam Noble’s follow up was going wide, then Niko Muir tried to backheel the ball into the net, but didn’t connect.
A swift counter-attack from the Wood saw Joshua Umerah cut inside and, from 25 yards, struck a fine effort which beat keeper Scott Loach and crashed off the bar.
But, on 34 minutes, Pools took the lead. Noble’s short corner picked out Davies and the captain headed home from close range at the far post.
It was almost two a minute
later – James’ low effort saved by keeper Balcombe.
Wood started brightly after the break and almost caught Pools out two minutes into the restart – Umerah made the most of some hesitation in the home defence and was in on goal, his finish kept out well by Loach.
Pools were guilty of sitting too deep in the second half, inviting Wood pressure, but defender Manny Parry’s wild shot could only trouble the empty seats in the away end behind the goal where 20 visiting fans sat.
Pools were denied a strong penalty claim by referee Gareth Rhodes when Davies was appeared to have been clambered over by Jamal Fyfield and Wood almost made them pay on 70 minutes when Loach was forced into two close-range saves following a scramble.
Davies, however, sealed the points for Pools six minutes from time – Noble’s free-kick half cleared to Muir, who returned the ball to the area with a delightful chip and the captain headed in.
Wood boss Luke Garrard said: “For 36 minutes we were the only team in it.
“When you get almost 3,000 supporters at home and they are aggrieved you have to turn them in your favour and I felt we did that.
“Hartlepool had the two best opportunities at 0-0 but we were very much on the front foot and played in Hartlepool’s half.
“To concede like we did, falling asleep at a short corner, is disappointing – not good enough.
“In the second half we had to stay in the game at 1-0 and we had a couple of moments to get back into it, but didn’t. Then we concede in a soft manner again.’’ STAR MAN: Andrew Davies (Hartlepool) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ ATTENDANCE: 2,988 REFEREE: Gareth Rhodes 6/10