POOLS IN DISARRAY
Money’s men have no answer as flying Bucks’ front two run riot
PERHAPS it wasn’t much of a shock that AFC Telford knocked out Hartlepool yesterday. Pools may be a division above the Bucks but the in-forn visitors won with ease.
Pools are in a mess and new boss Richard Money has yet to find a way of solving the puzzle.
But there was no doubt the visitors felt they could inflict more misery on Pools and goals from strong frontmen Amari Morgan- Smith and Daniel Udoh secured a deserved place in round three.
Talented boss Gavin Cowan admitted: “The result is a brilliant one, the performance outstanding. They stuck to the plan and did everything we asked of them.
“We went away from home to a team a division above us. I’m a critical thinker and just because they are in the division above it doesn’t automatically make them a better team. We did our research and we felt we could get at them. We wanted to press them as high as we could up the pitch and unsettle them.’’
The opener came when Carl Magnay lost out on halfway, which allowed Ryan Barnett to cross for Morgan-Smith to calmly tap home.
It should have been two on 17 minutes. Magnay again lost possession and the visitors broke.
Morgan Smith homed in on goal, but as he hesitated and fed Udoh, a vital saving block from Nicky Featherstone averted the threat.
Pools’ first shot came ten minutes later – a low free-kick from Ryan Donaldson was well saved.
When the visitors attacked, they were up against a panicked Pools’ defence and Udoh could have netted, denied by the legs of keeper Scott Loach.
Pools made a double change at the break, but the visitors almost doubled their lead as Morgan-Smith’s close-range effort was blocked.
With little-to-no impact from Pools, apart from passing the ball around aimlessly, it was the parttime visitors who were making all the pressing.
Pools defenders failed to clear their lines and a shot from Ryan Barnett came back off the post. Udoh was alert enough to race in and smash into an empty net on 67 minutes.
Money admitted: “The players have let the supporters down on the pitch. I have to do everything in my power to make sure they never see anything like that again.
“We need to reset and go again. I’m mindful of a lack of confidence at home so I am careful about what I say but what I’ve seen and what they delivered is not good enough.
“I can only apologise to the fans.”
STAR MAN: Amari Morgan-Smith (AFC Telford) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★