Hartlepool United 0, Stockport County 1

Aug 25 2008 by Arthur Pickering, The Journal

LOSING at home is bad enough, losing to a goal three minutes into added time is worse, but losing a game you should have won by three or four clear goals is worst of all.

Danny Wilson’s Hartlepool did most things right at Victoria Park on Saturday against a team playing for a point. But not for the first time they were frustrated by a goalkeeper in inspired form then hit by a late goal.

“We were mugged,” said Wilson. “It’s a disappointing result for all of us, but the team performance was good. We just couldn’t put the ball in the net. Their defence made it difficult to get through, and when we did their keeper was outstanding.”

To make matters worse for Pool, they lost midfield general Willie Boland just before half-time, and his knee ligament injury looks like keeping him out for some time – another test for Wilson’s paper-thin squad.

“It’s a blow we could have done without,” he said. “But these things happen and it gives somebody else a chance to show what he can do. There were some good performances, but we got nothing for it. The secret of success is to come back from disappointments like this.”

It will take some doing, because with 90 minutes gone Pool were going to have to settle for a point after dominating. Three minutes later they were hit as Tommy Rowe ran at a retreating defence before slotting a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Earlier, several better chances for Pool had gone astray, County keeper Owain fon Williams using his finger-tips to keep out shots from Richie Jones, Antony Sweeney, Andy Monkhouse and James Brown. Joel Porter’s header scraped the bar and the Aussie striker went close twice more, while Brown thought he had marked his new Pool contract with a goal before defender Jonny Mullins threw himself across the line to block the ball.

Long before the end, it was clear it was going to be one of those days for Pool, but Rowe’s late goal made it even worse.

Wilson said: “It was reminiscent of a few games last season. Teams come here to frustrate us, and it’s up to us to break them down.

“We did enough today, but came up against an inspired goalkeeper.”

Pool can redeem themselves in the Carling Cup against Premiership West Brom tomorrow.

Wilson said: “It’s not a game we are frightened of. We are looking forward to it. It’s a chance to come back. We have to be sure we make a game of it.’’

HARTLEPOOL: Lee-Barrett, Sweeney, Nelson, Collins, Humphreys, Jones (Foley 68), Boland (Power 42), Liddle, Monkhouse (Barker 83), Brown, Porter. Subs (not used): McCunnie, Robson. Booked: Jones, Liddle, Humphreys.

STOCKPORT: fon Williams, Mullins (McSweeney 46), Raynes, Owen, McNulty, Gleeson, Blizzard, Baker (Turnbull 70), Dicker, Rowe, Anthony Pilkington. Subs (not used): Rigby, Thompson, McNeil.

Goal: Rowe 90.

Attendance: 3,945.

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).