Pools 0 - Huddersfield 0

AS I SEEN IT

RUNNING MONKEY sees yet another draw at the Vic

After the ambulances were called to the Vic on Saturday night it was a wonder Pools still had a team to be able to meet this fixture. This was strengthened by the Mail claiming a possible eight players unavailable. Obviously Sweeney and Luscombe would miss out, Gary Liddle was heading to the beauty parlour for a face mask, and one of our strikers was reported to be pregnant. 

Even a pregnancy would not stop a Poolie player from turning out and it was great to see Nish, Sam and a brace of full backs make a lightning recovery, Evan Horwood even resorting to a dip in the North Sea to aid his recovery, shades of Tony Toms' fitness regime. 

A fine night for footy and a great crowd which I may have mis-heard as 5500 turned out to see us take on Udders, who you would have thought would be laughing up their sleeves at our plight. 

Now we have some back up these days, and RH, Larkin and Poole filled the gaps and Paul Murray, also made of sterner stuff, made the line up after limping badly at the end of Saturday’s game. Even Brownie had made the bench for the first time this season. 

From the off Pools were pushing Udders back and Pools almost took the lead when Hartley blasted a shot in. Flinders almost made a repeat of Saturday's Flinders [claimed by Nish] goal with a long punt up field. Aussie got himself booked after a bit of pushing and shoving from an Udders forward which was unnecessary. 

" Obviously Sweeney and Luscombe would miss out, Gary Liddle was heading to the beauty parlour for a face mask, and one of our strikers was reported to be pregnant."

Nish blasted another effort high; he really should be testing the keeper. Sam missed a ball that dropped for the attacker but fortunately the defenders did their job and wellied it clear. Pools were holding their own and I think surprised Udders a little. 

Super Tom had one chance all game and blasted it over. A wise choice to give him a miss on this performance, after he was being considered a target during the summer. As in the other two home games I have seen, Pools can play some nice football, which in my opinion is better than last season - it is just getting the ball into the net at the end of it that is missing.  

Udders came out the second half looking for an early goal and pressed us back for a good spell. Larkin made a trademark long run on goal but missed out with a poor execution of a shot. Pools started to press home now and Monky was pulled up twice by the official in successive runs into the box as he leaned towards the big time Charlies.  No I am not having a pop, just saying it as it was. Nish does some good stuff on the ball, is tidy when he has the ball at his feet, but a glaring miss from four yards after some great build-up play from Monky and Horwood will not endear him to the faithful unless he starts getting on the sheet a bit more. OK It is early days but fans are fickle. 

A nice chip over from Monky saw Larkin head straight at the keeper. 

Not all doom and gloom just yet, but Udders were there for the taking and we should have stuffed them, and with Stevenage on a roll we need to be on our mettle at the weekend.