WITH back-to-back home games to come in the next ten days, Hartlepool United’s season could be about to take off.
Two points shy of the League One play-off zone, after Saturday’s game with Yeovil comes their game in hand when Preston visit Victoria Park.
Pool, though, have won just twice on home turf this season from eight games, compared to five wins from nine away.
This win at Scunthorpe – Pool’s first Football League win at Glanford Park in 21 years – was as routine as they come.
The home side offered little in attack and when they did try and press the visiting defence, with former Sunderland defender Stephen Wright outstanding, kept them at bay. Behind the back four, goalkeeper Andy Rafferty was only having his second start since stepping up from the Northern League and he was faultess in his handling and positional play.
The goals came from Andy Monkhouse and Antony Sweeney, both scoring their firsts of the season.
Monkhouse turned and shot low into the net from the edge of the area after a loose ball ran into his path on the edge of the area, while Sweeney’s header from six yards – he met a curling Evan Horwood cross to score - finished the game off.
Both players missed good chances to add to the tally, Monkhouse heading wide from close range when Horwood crossed from the left, Sweeney heading high into the hands of the home goalkeeper after Monkhouse header put him in.
Monkhouse was impressive in a central striking role, a position he has been moved into from the left wing by manager Mick Wadsworth.
The goalscorer said: “A lot has been said about home form, but our away form is among the best in the league and we do not have any fear about going anywhere. This was a near-perfect away performance from front to back.
“There is a belief away from home and, we do not know why as a set of players and the gaffer does not know, we go away and get results and we cannot at home.
“We need to sort it out and we have two home games coming up to do it.
“It is a long time since we won here, but we can forget that now.
“I do not want to sound big headed or anything, but we were quite comfortable.
“There is a lot of belief in the dressing- room and no-one can argue with our away form.” Monkhouse linked up well with strike partner James Poole, causing plenty of difficulties for the home side.
Wadsworth and Pool will appeal the yellow card issued to Peter Hartley.
They feel it was a case of mistaken identity when it should have been Horwood cautioned for a first-half foul instead.
It was the fifth booking of the season for Hartley, which rules him out of the Yeovil game.
SCUNTHORPE: Slocombe, Wright (Norwood 78), Shane Duffy, Reid, Nolan, Grant, Togwell, O’Connor, Barcham (Mark Duffy 69), Dagnall, Ajose (Thompson 46). Subs (not used): Johnstone, Canavan.
Booked: Grant.
HARTLEPOOL: Rafferty, Austin, Hartley, Wright, Horwood, Solano (Humphreys 71), Liddle, Murray (Haslam 86), Sweeney, Poole (Boyd 88), Monkhouse. Subs (not used): Luscombe, Baldwin.
Booked: Hartley, Austin, Wright.
Goals: Monkhouse 21, Sweeney 77.
Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire) Attendance: 3,861
