Bournemouth1
Hartlepool United2
THEIR pre-season expectations weren’t made public, but it’s fair to say if Hartlepool United had any, they have now been exceeded.
Victory at Bournemouth was their fifth win in a row, their ninth game without loss this season and, as a result, Pool sit third in League One this season – not bad for a team written off once again pre-season as relegation candidates.
After scoring his first goal for the club against Bury seven days earlier, Nobby Solano was again on the scoresheet.
His free-kick, arced and bent into the top corner of the net from 25 yards, was a peach. It got Pool level at 1-1 after they conceded and Evan Horwood won it with three minutes to go.
Substitutes Andy Monkhouse and James Poole combined to lift the ball to the far post where the substitute was waiting to volley in off the framework of the goal.
After failing to find their feet in the first-half, Solano’s goal was lauded by boss Mick Wadsworth: “Nobby’s goal was superb and got us back into it, because until then we weren’t the better team. We said at half-time it was a case of staying in the game – that would give us a chance to get something.
“It was a worthy victory, and again the squad on duty were fantastic. I thought we were the better team second-half.
“Now we keep it going, the challenge every week is to get better and there’s certainly a lot of things in the first-half we can do better.
“Bournemouth went into the game winning two on the bounce and they have turned their season around and had some good results, they are no mugs here and we have to be satisfied with it.
“Going back to our goals, that’s what Nobby does in training and Evan likewise. Nobby has had two or three free-kicks this season, but nothing like this one.”
Pool fell behind when Steven Gregory latched onto a half-cleared ball and smashed into the net from 25 yards. Solano’s goal was from similar distance. Adam Boyd was tripped and Solano gave Darryl Flahaven no chance as he found the top corner.
The goalkeeper didn’t have much hope of keeping out Horwood’s goal either. James Poole chipped across goal and, lurking at the far post, Horwood’s volley rifled in off the bar.
Defensively firm and well organised, Pool had few second-half scares in a display which got better as the game went on.
BOURNEMOUTH: Flahavan, Purches (Zubar 83), Baudry, Cooper, Malone, Peters (Cummings 84), Arter, Gregory, Pugh, Wesley Thomas, Fletcher (Stockley 73). Subs (not used): Jalal, Carmichael.
Booked: Baudry. Goal: Gregory 37.
HARTLEPOOL: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Hartley, Humphreys, Sweeney, Liddle, Murray (Poole 66), Solano (Horwood 75), Boyd (Monkhouse 62), Nish. Subs (not used): Rafferty, Luscombe.
Booked: Murray, Hartley, Monkhouse.
Goals: Solano 42, Horwood 87.
Referee: Iain Williamson (Berkshire) Attendance: 5,275
