Victoria
Hartlepool 3 Burnley 2
Report by Becko
It's fortunate we had a three goal lead courtesy of two goals
in the last five minutes in the first leg, because both midfield and defence played well
below par at Victoria Park.
Going forward, especially through Glen Little, Burnley looked
capable of scoring. A confidence-boosting goal for Andy Cooke after 17 minutes looked to
have killed the tie a 5-1, but if Cooke had taken his other two chances either side of his
strike instead of putting both headers off target, then it would surely have been all
over.
The game changed with Hartlepool's first real attack. A
Thomas handball (both he and Cox made too many errors) resulted in a penalty. Crichton
saved, but it had to be re-taken - presumably the referee, Mr Robinson from Hull, will
know why, because I don't. Opposite corner: 1-1 on 29 minutes. Eight minutes later it was
2-1 when former Blackburn apprentice Lee Fitzpatrick hit as good a goal as you'll see all
season. A 30 yard volley into the top corner gave Crichton no chance. 99 times out of 100
this type of shot fails to hit the target. This was the 100th.
Phil Gray was replaced by super sub Andy Payton at the
interval. Gray might get ten goals this season and he works hard, an essential quality
looked for in players by Stan. It's therefore a pity he's scored one of them for Northern
Ireland.
We thought Payton would be the saviour, but within two
minutes of the re-start Crichton in fact proved to be the real hero when he saved
Sperrevik's header, low down at his right hand post. At 3-1 I suspect we would have been
going out of the competition. Burnley weathered the storm and almost grabbed an equaliser,
when Little took the ball the full length of the pitch and delivered a great cross, which
Payton did well to get to in front of Westwood. Unfortunately, keeper Williams, coming
back at full stretch, was able to tip over. Lee Briscoe also caused Williams to save well
when he cut in from the left.
The equaliser duly arrived in the 82nd minute. The referee
missed Kevin Ball's handball (his only contribution to the game), Briscoe crossed and
Payton headed home.
Just when we thought the game was going to peter out we were
proved wrong. Cox fouled Sperrevik as he raced through and former Newcastle player Paul
Stephenson bent the free kick around the wall to give Pool the victory they probably
deserved.
Stan didn't watch the game and he didn't take the opportunity
to give a game to a few of the players who haven't been featuring recently. Maylett's
introduction as an 85th minute substitute was as adventurous as we were. Defensive
performances like this against Palace and Fulham next week will be punished.
Team: Crichton,
Thomas, Davis, Cox, Weller (Maylett 85), Briscoe, Cook, Ball, Little, Cooke (Branch 79),
(Gray, Payton 46). Subs not used: Jepson and Mullin.
Scorers: Cooke
(17), Payton (82) / Miller (29 pen), Fitzpatrick (37), Stephenson (90).
Attendance:
1,090.
Referee:
Robinson (Hull).
London Clarets Man
of the Match: Glen Little.
The home leg
