Tranmere Rovers 3, Hartlepool United 1

Mar 17 2008 by Arthure Pickering, The Journal

DEFEAT by a side struggling to find the form needed to make its promotion play-off dream come true hardly looks like an achievement for Hartlepool.

But while the result was wrong, the performance was better than many of the team’s efforts away this season.

A controversial penalty, an own goal and a last-minute third gave Tranmere a flattering win that keeps their promotion hopes alive. But Pool played for almost an hour with 10 men and missed a penalty that would have levelled the game at 2-2 minutes from time. Danny Wilson’s side were the better team for long spells, and that’s more than could be said about many other away games this season.

Pool showed huge determination and a lot of skill.

Wilson said: “That was a magnificent performance from our players.” But he had no praise for referee Dean Whitestone, who showed Jamie McCunnie a red after dithering over whether to award a penalty when he brought down his former Pool team-mate Ian Moore. Arran Lee-Barrett saved Chris Greenacre’s penalty but couldn’t prevent the Tranmere striker scoring from the rebound.

On-loan Boro striker Tom Craddock had put his spot kick wide as Pool looked for an equaliser, and on 64 minutes Pool’s Nelson turned a cross from ex-Pool player, Chris Shuker, into his own net. Ritchie Humphreys narrowed the gap with a far-post header from Willie Boland’s cross. But after Sherriff headed in a free-kick late on to flatter his side.

TRANMERE: Coyne, Stockdale, Kay, Chorley, Taylor, Shuker (Zola 70), McLaren, Jennings (Mullin 90), Sherriff, Moore, Greenacre. Subs (not used): Achterberg, Ahmed, Curran.

Goals: Greenacre 36, Nelson 64 og, Sherriff 90

HARTLEPOOL: Lee-Barrett, McCunnie, Nelson, Collins (Clark 47), Humphreys, Sweeney, Boland, Liddle, Monkhouse, Mackay (Craddock 70), Porter (Foley 84). Subs (not used): Elliott, Robson.

Sent Off: McCunnie (34)

Goal: Humphreys 71

Attendance: 5,608

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).