Rhodes puts boss Hignett on warpath
HARTLEPOOL 1 BROMLEY 2
FOLLOWING four games unbeaten and two healthy performances on the road in the last week, Pools suffered a first defeat under new boss Craig Hignett.
They were beaten at home by Bromley, who took a two-goal lead and were strong and organised throughout.
Pools did get one back in injury time, but Liam Noble’s goal was of little consequence.
The game was shadowed by Gareth Rhodes’ poor refereeing, as the York official confused everyone throughout with a string of strange decisions.
Pools remain in mid-table in the National League. They won’t be relegated, equally they won’t be promoted.
But they will have to be more combative to get the better of effective and typical National League sides like Bromley.
Big, direct, powerful and organised, the visitors were a tough nut to crack.
Pools started well and the visitors were reliant on hitting big balls from back to front for in-form striker JJ Hooper to chase.
Aaron Cunningham, so impressive in his opening two games for Pools, flashed an early header wide. Peter Kioso met a Liam Noble corner and headed wide, before striker Nicke Kabamaba went close and Josh Hawkes fired a bouncing low shot past the post.
It was a sharp opening with Pools looking to get forward, but they were up against a thick brick wall of red shirts.
But from their first shot, on 30 minutes, the visitors shocked Pools.
A long throw-in was launched into the penalty box and the loose ball dropped for centrehalf Marc-anthony Okoye. Showing a striker’s instinct, but fired a firm, angled drive across Scott Loach into the far side of the net.
Loach was forced into making a fine save soon after from a long-range JJ Hooper shot to keep his side in the game.
But in injury time, Pools fell two goals down to a touch of class from Luke Coulson. The home crowd applauded his skill after he brought down a pass with his heel before finishing neatly past Loach with his second.
It could even have been three before the break as Frankie Sutherland’s curling free-kick was met six yards out by Okoye, but Loach saved the header and, from the loose ball, Hooper blazed over from close range.
Pools changed formation and left players forward to try and get back into the game.
But after referee Rhodes booking for Peter Kioso, which now means a two-game ban for the defender, the visitors should have scored again.
In front of an open goal, Coulson smashed over the bar.
Liam Noble got one back deep into injury time, picking out the top corner from 20 yards but Pools ran out of time.
Hignett said: “It was frustrating. I don’t want to take anything away from Bromley who played well.
“We were naïve, but we have young players learning their way and we have a lot of travelling to contend with this week. It was a phenomenal effort in the last week but off it today slightly
“We gave it a right good go second half and went all out for goals by taking chances at the back. I won’t take anything away from them but we could have nicked something from it.’’
On the referee, he added: “If I told the truth I would be fined and get a 10-game ban. The job is hard enough but he made it hard enough for himself. I was booked for waving my arms about too much. I was disappointed with a decision and he booked me for it.’’
POOLS (3-4-1-2): Loach 6; Kioso 7, Cunningham 6 (Kitching 66, 6), Anderson 6; Donaldson 6, Featherstone 6, Noble 7, Amos 6 (Molyneux 46, 6); Hawkes 6; Kabamba 7, Muir 6 (Hawkins 79, 6). Not used: Richardson, Scott. BOOKED: Cunningham (10, foul); Hawkes (55, foul); Kioso (61, foul); Kabamba (88, dissent) BROMLEY (4-4-2): Gregory 6; Brindley 7, Goodman 7, Okoye 8, Wood 6; Coulson 8, Sutherland 7, Raymond 7, Porter 7 (Philpot 87); Hooper 7 (Johnson 90), Bugiel 5 (Higgs 71, 6). NOT USED: Sarpong-wiredu, Dunne. BOOKED: Sutherland (47, foul); Raymond (89, foul) REFEREE: Gareth Rhodes (York)