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You wait ages for a goal, then five come along at once
It’s been an incredibly frustrating start to the season for Hartlepool United. After relegation from League One, few were predicting an immediate return – even as a Hartlepool fan myself, all I was hoping for was mid-table, consolidation for the future, and some decent football. But last season’s struggle to score goals has continued. When Millwall struck from the penalty spot against Sheffield Wednesday on the 24th, it meant Pools were the last team not to score a league goal. There’d been some decent attacking pressure, shots from range going just wide and a fair few decent opportunities, but no actual goals. It’s been a long-term problem. Since September 2011, Pools have lost 25 home games, and failed to score in 26.
The following midweek against Bradford in the Football League Trophy, that was all to change.
Bradford made a number of changes, with Nahki Wells, target man James Hanson and midfield engine Gary Jones among those left out. But as is the rule for the competition, six of the most regular appearance-makers were selected – remember, this is the club who overcame Arsenal, Aston Villa and Wigan, as well as being promoted from League Two last season. So Hartlepool’s 5-0 win was a bit of a shock.
Pools scored through a Luke James poached goal; winger Jonathan Franks following up a rebound from his own spilled shot; a headed goal from teenage centre half Christian Burgess; a penalty from winger Jack Compton; and an overhead kick from squad player Nialle Rodney.
Hartlepool followed the win up with defeat once again, this time to Wycombe, but with a goal (scored in the very last minute). The first half of the match saw Hartlepool attacking and pushing Wycombe back, but a combination of a lack of cutting edge and some committed defending from Gary Doherty and team-mates kept the scoreline blank. Wycombe rose their game in the second half, Hartlepool failed to rise to the challenge, and there was a two goal margin before long.
The chances were there in the first half and reports suggest a strong start on the opening day at Rochdale…but after Rochdale got the first goal on the break, heads dropped. The five goals prove that there is some attacking flair at Pools – with a bit more mental strength, semi-consistent entertainment is achievable. But a stronger mentality is required first.
Brentford’s dodgy keepers
Bradford reacted well to defeat at the weekend, though that’s at least partially down to Brentford goalkeeper David Button.
When the ball was passed back to him early in the match, he blasted it against Nahki Wells, who was closing him down. Fortunately, it was with enough power to cannon out for a goal kick. In the 26th minute Wells raced through behind the defence, only for Button to race out and take him out on the edge of the box Harald Schumacher style. Understandably, he was sent off.
Substitute keeper Jack Bonham didn’t do much better. Bonham, formerly of Watford, made his first professional appearance for the Hornets on the last day of last season, when he spilled a vital goal into his own net.
Released by Watford in the summer, he made his second professional appearance for Brentford in the League Cup – a 3-2 win over Dagenham. His third came in a game where the first team was rested against Derby, conceding five. His appearance at the weekend was his fourth professional appearance…and it showed.
Bonham could do nothing when a Bradford cutting move found James Hanson free near the penalty spot to score the first goal. But he has to take the blame for the second – he came rushing out past a defender to allow Wells to race past into an open goal, and was later beaten low at the near post for the fourth. There was also a late shot that Bonham appeared confident was sailing over by the way he left it, but it hit the crossbar and came back into play.
It’s not that Bonham’s necessarily a bad goalkeeper of course, but he’s still a teenager, so bound to be raw. It doesn’t help that his appearances tend to come against a team a division higher, a side with a point to prove or in a must-win end of season game. But the start of his career’s been pretty rough.
Pope remains dangerous
As Hartlepool were beating Bradford by five, Port Vale’s Tom Pope scored twice against Bury, to give the newly promoted League One side victory over newly relegated League Two. Though he scored 31 goals last season, these were his first goals of the season.
He carried on the form at the weekend, placing a shot into the bottom corner against Carlisle for the only goal in a 1-0 win. Given that last season he outscored his previous career total, he could very easily be described as a confidence player – this may well be the start of another impressive season.
