The boy Don good as new boss gets off to great start
LEAMINGTON 0 HARTLEPOOL 1
RYAN DONALDSON was a major player for Richard Money during his time at Cambridge United; now reunited at Pools, the attacker got the manager off to a winning start.
An FA Trophy tie at Leamington wasn’t the most welcoming of openings for Money, appointed in midweek. But it was a case of job done and they now take their place in tomorrow’s second round draw.
After losing at Workington in round one last season, this was Pools’ first ever victory in the competition. Money has won the FA Trophy previously, triumphing four years ago as Cambridge boss and Pools will hope some of his expertise can rub off on them now.
Donaldson was part of his winning side in 2014 and the forward scored a fine solo goal.
He collected possession just inside the opposition half, surged forward, skipped past three challenges and fired in.
On a terrible day for football, Pools had to show their mettle to come through the test.
They started sharply, and a corner from Paddy Mclaughlin, in for Liam Noble who was rested with a hamstring issue, was headed against the crossbar by a home defender.
Then Marcus Dinanga, one of four changes to the side made by the new boss, had a good chance but keeper Tony Breedon denied the front man a goal with a fine save, keeping out a tap in into a gaping net.
Dinanga has struggled at Pools after moving on loan from Burton, failing to make much of an impression.
He should have had a goal in the second half when Niko Muir crossed and the loanee only found the keeper when he should have put the ball into the net with ease. Tellingly, he was replaced after the miss.
Muir also missed a good opening, clipping the ball wide after a swift counter-attack.
The home side had only one real chance, as Kieron Dunbar fired high and wide from an inviting position.
Money handed a debut to right-back Harvey Rodgers, signed on loan from Accrington on Friday, and he gave a solid account of himself.
The new boss said: “Job done sums it up well. It was a tough day. The conditions weren’t great and we got through. I felt we tried manfully to keep the ball down and pass and build attacks. We played comfortably in the middle zone of the pitch.
“Some of our passing the last third was a bit loose. We did have to dig in today, on days like this you need your back four and goalkeeper to be big and strong, that was a big help.
“Harvey coming in makes us more physical at the back and you could see today that the back four stood up to long balls and difficult conditions.’’
LEAMINGTON: Breeden, English, Gudger, Flanagan, Mace, Lane, Dunbar, (Obeng 62) Gittings, Bishop (Dwyer 85), Edwards, Taylor. Not Used: Clarke, Bowden, Hood. HARTLEPOOL: Loach, Richardson, Rodgers, Magnay, Kitching, Donaldson, Featherstone, Mclaughlin, Hawkes (James 67), Muir, Dinanga (O’neill 79). Not Used: Catterick, Miller, Murphy. Booked: Featherstone.