RUNNING MONKEY goes to penalties
As I entered the ground from the Mill House side on a pleasant sunny evening there was a distinct buzz about the place. As I took up residence in my usual spot in the town end, the distinct buzz was quite audible. One fan suggested it was Codyakker’s belly playing up after last night's curry, but it turns out there was a problem with the electrics, and three men with their heads stuck in the box below the pylon were checking out the buzz. The upshot was there would be a delay in proceedings.
Fifteen minutes is a long time in the life of a fan and, as rumours of the first refund of the season started to circulate, the teams came out again to warm up, and this time they were not it training gear, game on. 2774 fans look a lot more than that when they spread themselves around including the 449 plus Lawrence in the Rink End.
News that Pools had let two strikers leave came as a bit of a surprise, Mackay has returned to Gosforth and Greulich signed for Durham City. As neither of them had really had any opportunity to show much in the first team, the consensus was they were never going to make the breakthrough anyway, but we wish them well.
Danny Wilson was on the line, not with arms folded - he has a new stance now to go with his prestige job - hands in pockets, laid back against the dug-out, easy peasey style. How did he get another job in Sheffield after his antics at the Wendies and Swindle, some of the Blades fans are still asking why.
The Blades looked a good mixture of tall defenders and some good ball players, especially Quinn and the ex-Poolie Mackem loanee Collins, who was a good player for Pools in the Sheff defence. An early raid by Sheff saw Ned scrambling as a ball cut right through the box from the wing and luckily was missed by all. Ned was scrambling again on the edge of his box and dropped the ball but made a good recovery under pressure. Nish did well to chase down and win a long ball out and eventually won a corner from it but the cross was far too long, but Pools were putting a bit of pressure on and winning the ball in the middle of the park and putting it straight back in the box.
Aussie was chopped down and the ref waived play on, and Hartley, given the same treatment was awarded the free kick but there were just signs of a dithering official in the middle of the park. Their goal was made easy as the wide man unchallenged down the left played a ball in from almost the dead ball line and three men covering two in the middle could not stop the lively Quinn from bundling the ball in to take the lead. Sam was leading by example and not wasting any ball. One cross field ball set up Monky who charged on, jinked back, and expected Horwwod to make the play forward, but he just stood watching and the attack fizzled out." Danny Wilson was on the line, not with arms folded - he has a new stance now to go with his prestige job - hands in pockets, laid back against the dug-out, easy peasey style"
Boydie looked up for this game and looks lean and fit. A nice Cryuff turn saw Boydie in space. He set up Monky, who chipped in for Nish. His effort was cleared to Sweeney who hit it over the bar. Some good football from Pools. Nish won a corner and Horwood sent in a good ball that Monky connected with, and I was marking it down one all as the ball pinged around the woodwork and came back out. Another Pools corner saw Solano test the keeper at the near post with a good drive that brought the half to an end.
End to end stuff in the second half with both teams wasting chances. Ned made another good block from a testing low shot. Lidds had a header that landed on top of the net. The three subs came on as Pools stepped up their game looking for the equaliser and Poole came out of a tackle and fed Luscombe who played the perfect chip in front of Sweeney, who rifled the ball home. This brought the end of Sweeney’s game as he went off injured, sounds like a groin strain that may keep him out for a while. I remember this happening late last season and he was back in next game. More importantly Pools were down to ten men and heading for extra time.
Sheff tried to take advantage of the extra man but Pools more than held their own; one lucky escape saw the ball rebound off the post as Ned was scrambling across his box. Being a man short Horwood had moved upfield and was shooting on sight. Ned found himself exposed and took on three Sheff players and psyched them out, forcing them to hit wide.
Penalties it was then.
Danny Wilson went on to speak to the ref, obviously trying to get the pens taken at the Rink End. The official picked up the ball and pointed to the Town End, leaving Danny with egg on his face.
Horwood, Poole and Luscombe all hit perfect penalties, but Nish looked too casual and hit his shot into the Town End. Not to be outdone, Ned saved the next shot and Aussie took his well. Sam had his effort saved, but why was Monky, the self-styled best player on the team, not in the penalty takers list? It was left to Phyllis Kirk to take the honours for the Blades.
Despite the result, it was a very good cup game against relative strangers, who we will have the opportunity to make amends against. It was a sterling performance by Pools, especially for the last forty minutes, when we were down to ten men.
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