Pools tasting more away-day success

Nov 20 2011 by Simon Armstrong, Sunday Sun

WITH five away wins to their name this season, Hartlepool are showing what they are capable of on the road. If only they could do the same in front of their own fans.

At home, Pools have won only twice and if they could match up home form with away, then they would be right in the thick of the play-off mix instead of being two points adrift.

With back-to-back home games to come against Yeovil on Saturday and Preston a week on Tuesday, they have the perfect chance to put the problems to bed.

But they won’t have an easier game all season than this one at Glanford Park. Andy Monkhouse and Antony Sweeney scored the goals to earn the victory, but they were better than Scunthorpe across the pitch – and from start to finish.

Sweeney missed a great opening early on when Monkhouse flicked on and he was in behind the defence, however his attempt to lift the header went into the arms of keeper Sam Slocombe.

But soon after Monkhouse took possession in the area, turned and fired in a low shot which caught goalkeeper and defence unaware and the ball bounced into the bottom corner.

It was his first goal of the season and, with him set for a run in the team as a striker, could well be the first of many.

Somehow, he failed to make it two on 37 minutes. Evan Horwood fired in a cross from the left and Monkhouse raced into space to meet the ball six yards out, but only managed to steer it wayward. As he lay on the turf with his head in hands, the pose said it all.

With Pools’ regular keeper Scott Flinders suspended after a red card in last weekend’s loss to Stevenage, Mick Wadsworth pitched Andy Rafferty into the fray.

He was called into serious action in the second half when Horwood attempted to chest the ball back to him inside the penalty area and it fell short. Rafferty, however, was quick off his line to smother and the danger was averted.

James Poole almost nabbed a deserved second for Pools when his pace took him beyond the defence, but his shot was parried by Slocombe.

However, Sweeney made sure of the points in the closing minutes. Horwood’s corner was cleared only as far as the left-back and, given a second chance, he swung the ball into the near post where Sweeney rose to plant a firm header into the net.

Rafferty was finally called upon to make a save in the closing minutes, smothering a tricky Bobby Grant free-kick.

“It was a regulation win,” said Pools boss Mick Wadsworth afterwards. “We scored two and I’m disappointed we didn’t score more. We could have been three ahead at half-time.

“We caused them problems at the back and we defended well when we had to.

“I had no worries about pitching Andy (Rafferty) in and he was confident. He can be satisfied with his work.

“Now we need to start winning at home. It’s a mystery how we win away but not at home. But believe me, it will change.”

ANDY RAFFERTY8

A fine performance

NEIL AUSTIN 7

Fierce and determined throughout

STEPHEN WRIGHT8

Focused and gave nothing away

PETER HARTLEY7

Complemented Wright well

EVAN HORWOOD7

As good as he has been this season

ANTONY SWEENEY7

Welcome first goal of the season

PAUL MURRAY7

Neat and tidy as ever

NOBBY SOLANO6

Gave the ball away occasionally

JAMES POOLE8

His pace caused problems all afternoon

ANDY MONKHOUSE8

Refreshed and confident up front

SUBS: Humphreys (Solano 71), Haslam (Murray 86), Boyd (Poole 88)

NOT USED: Baldwin, Luscombe

BOOKED: Hartley (dissent, 33), Austin (time wasting, 63), Wright (foul, 88)

SCUNTHORPE UNITED: Slocombe, Wright (Norwood 78), Reid, S Duffy, Nolan, Ajose (Thompson 46), Togwell, O’Connor, Barcham (M Duffy 68), Dagnall, Grant

NOT USED: Canavan, Johnstone

BOOKED: Grant (foul, 90)

REFEREE: Andy Woolmer (Northampton) 6

ATTENDANCE: 3,861