Hartlepool United 3 Bury 0
HIS legs may not be what they once were, but there's no doubt that Nobby Solano still has the quality.
The 36-year-old former Newcastle United crowd favourite moved to Hartlepool United in the summer, as he looked for a return to the North East after an unflattering time at Hull City.
It was a signing which captured the headlines – and it’s one which Mick Wadsworth is reaping the rewards from. There’s no danger of Solano picking up a final easy pay packet during his time at Victoria Park, he has set the standards.
Solano was an inspiration as Pool brushed aside Bury with ease to make it eight unbeaten this season, ten games without loss taking last season into account. They sit this morning a healthy fifth in the table after a fourth successive victory.
The Peruvian opened the scoring to put Pool in front, moving through the visiting defence on the edge of the area and clipping a low finish past on-loan Sunderland goalkeeper Trevor Carson.
Colin Nish added two more in the second half, and was unlucky not to get a hat-trick when he thundered a header against the crossbar from a teasing Solano cross.
And the latter’s performance left Wadsworth purring.
“Nobby’s goal was beautiful,” he said. “But he’s played some great passes and some of them were absolutely top class to release players on the diagonal.
“He gives us quality. His deadballs are good, apart from that one which hit the wall!
“But his goal was great – so clever and so calm.
“I enjoy watching him as much as everyone else. I love it when the ball is at his feet, you just expect something to happen.
“He’s a joy to have around the place. He’s great with the young players and the good thing is he cares. He’s not wheeling his days out and just trying to earn a few quid.”
Nish’s two goals were a welcome relief to the big striker, who took his tally to three for the campaign since moving from Hibs in the summer.
He reacted quickest inside the box when his turn was blocked and the ball ran loose, drilling it home.
His second saw him rob defender Andrai Jones and confidently finish low to cap a useful display.
And Pool were never in any danger against poor visitors, as the defensive unit kept them are arm’s length and they have only conceded one at Victoria Park this season in four games.
Wadworth admitted: “It’s nice to be looking up the table. We won’t get carried away and we’ll just keep our nose to the grindstone and keep working hard.”
HARTLEPOOL: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Hartley, Wright, Sweeney, Murray (Monkhouse 59), Liddle, Solano (Humphreys 78), Boyd (Poole 62), Nish. Subs (not used): Rafferty, Luscombe.
Goals: Solano 33, Nish 51, 74.
BURY: Carson, Picken, Eastham, Andrai Jones, Skarz, Worrall, Coke, Sweeney (Byrne 77), Mike Jones, Bishop (John-Lewis 58), Harrad. Subs (not used): Belford, Cregg, McCarthy. Booked: Coke.
Ref: Chris Sarginson (Staffordshire) Att: 5,343
