............. the quality for both teams was limited.

The main differences is these players fought for every ball something that has to be done every game at this level and was lacking earlier this season.

My assessment after just getting in from a rain sodden afternoon is:

First 9 minutes we could have been 2 down with 2 Lang slip ups he made a 3rd slip on 21 minutes but recovered well with a block then we started to keep the ball because we involved Josh Hawkes more who just looked to pass it simple with 5 - 10 yards balls and play the way he was facing. He looks a good prospect so well done Matthew Bates for blooding him. Hawkes also threaded a ggod pass in the build up to a Cassidy disallowed goal.

The goal was nicely finished on the right hand side by Woods. Then we let Maidstone back into the game with Loach making good saves either side of half time one with his foot when their striker was clean through.

The start of the second half for 25 minutes we could not keep the ball. It was terrible, but Loach kept tipping headers over and Magnay defended without mistakes and Lang and Feathers closed down OK, but distribution from the back, especially down the flanks was abject. Young Hawkes had one good effort across goal from the inside right spot but did not get on the ball as much due to the poor passing down the left flank giving him little options.

Rodders then brilliant went pass Lee Worgan with an superb shimmy to the left when clean through, but just over ran it slightly to create a too acute an angle to finish. The penalty was a stone waller with good direct running with the ball by Cassidy who was a real handful all afternoon. A cool side footed finish by Woodsy.

In summary ball retention was significantly below football league level, but we were actually better at it than them.

Loach 7 with 3 good ground saves and safe tip overs from several headers
Hawkins 5 has to improve ball retention, but blocked OK
Lang 5 has to cut out errors, but recovered to have a better second half in clearing his lines
Magnay 6 Not greatly mobile at the back, but organized and blocked well in both halves
Adams 4 Found the touchline with regularity so ball retention limited but worked hard
Newton 6 really worked hard and there is a place for that in the team, but once again not great at ball retention
Featherstone defensively Ok blocking the ball but he has slowed down this season and gets caught a few times in possession or giving it away
Hawkes 7 bright in the first half because he tries to retain possession and not be too ambitious. My lad reckoned he is technically the best on the pitch. I agree.
Oakes 6 tries hard but could not control a routine ball to feet first half
Cassidy 8 My MoM as he put 200% more effort in than I have seen him do under Harrison and he was clearly the first line of defence. May actually make a good centre back as he defended set pieces well. Well worth trying there.

Rodders 6 if only we could get a cushioned ball passed on the deck behind the defence he would do teams for pace.

Tactically we were terribly narrow and limited attacking options. Adams offered the only width first half. That is understandable for a team at the wrong end of the table. We were trying to be strong in the middle which we succeeded in doing, but an out and out winger has to be sought from somewhere for next season.

And finally, 205 vociferous Poolies with my Maidstone born son insisting I stood in the away end and not with the cricket club. My lad even joined in a few Hartlepool, Hartlepool chants. Every father's wish!

Serious summer surgery needed, but I think Bates has played himself into the job, but I hope sentiment does not get in the way of any retained list. Finally Maidstone are not full time and in the first half there was a gap in quality for 20 minutes while we scored 1 and had 1 disallowed. We simply moved the ball better in that spell where confidence was clear. Maybe a pointer to keeping full time with a small squad is the way forward. Over to you Mr Singh!

Was the player who scored twice for us not worthy of a rating?

Pass me the razor blades.

We couldn't buy a win a few weeks ago, now we are winning we still have the pessimism.

Being good at defensive set plays doesn’t make you a centre back.

Crazy comment that


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sorry I missed Woodsy out he was only the match winner so I would have to say 8 and joint MoM although did not get on the ball as much as he would have wanted but when he did he scored or worked possession quicker thus creating space for his team mates.

Thanks for the report Mr Tofeet.

Thanks for the extensive report, I couldn't care less how we play if we're getting wins to keep us up.

Agreed with Yubep, most centre backs are a threat at corners but you wouldn't convert them to strikers on that basis. Unless you were a Pools manager and you had Graeme Lee, who made Howard seem like Usain Bolt.

Did you type this all twice or are you just one of those impatient twats who keeps clicking submit rather than wait a second or two.

Who cares mate 3 points is all that matters look at the league table tonight....Fantastic

Great result. Don't really give a shit about the performance, though sounded decent enough to me on radio.

More or less safe now, a win on Monday would confirm it. I'm looking to go rest of season undefeated now, and piss on Tranmeres party last game of the season.

Woods must the only player in our history, in line for player of the year, based on only 20 games

3 points and the end game for Pat Phelan , a very Good Friday. Now who said I was miserable?.

I would have phrased that as 'stick the report up your very own arse, mr tofeet'

Bit harsh Talbot. I love a detailed match report.

Phelan is gonna drag on for a further 6 months, the Knut.

Surely not?. Cant remember what started first, Phelans killing spree or Pools decline , longest storyline ever.

I predicted Phelans storyline 10 years ago

I think the report is a bit harsh. We were comfortably the better side for most of the game. Daft goal (again) at the end nearly let it slip but there was only ever one team looked like winning. Agree there was some lack of quality, and ball retention could be better but let's not forget what has gone before it, and these players have been totally devoid of any confidence.
Another battling, gritty performance all round.

Nobody deserves a 4 for an away win. Are you like that fella on strictly who gives 4 when it should have been a six/ seven for a bit of attention. Fecking 4?

Blimey balltofeet, just be glad we won, couldn't care less if we had been shit, and stole a win. Why the match report with individual ratings ? Yes, we know you were one of only 200 Poolies at the game. Well done

Good report balltofeet. At the start you summed up the NL. Eleven players putting in a full shift is what is needed to succeed at this level.
We cannot expect great quality but players must compensate for that by concentration and effort. Bates is to be congratulated for creating a hunger for success amongst the players and deserves the chance to carry on.

We won.
I don't give a flying feck how we played.
In our situation all that matters is those lovely three points.
The rest is irrelevant.

I think people are being a bit harsh on Mr Tofeet here. He's only giving us his opinion.

Lighten up people, we've win 3 on the spin. When did that happen last?

First three games of the 2015/16 season?

Thank you for a report, I like to know opinion on how each player performed.

Well said PIN....I enjoyed reading his report and thoughts.

Some of the replies to Mr.B's match report and player analysis are quite utterly shameful, to think a fellow Pool's fan has gone to the trouble of saying it how he see's it and to be met with some of the comments on here is sinful. Longstanding posters too who should know better.

Good report and we now looking good for a mid table finish.

And fellow 'Pools fans who find it hard to praise a win but love a moan

It's surely a Hartlepool thing, as I haven't seen it as much in my travels across the UK

'oooh, I see you've just got your free horse that shits gold bricks'

'It's OK, but the gold doesn't have any diamonds in'

I'm just glad we're winning without necessarily dominating games or doing it in style.

'Shameful'....... You must have lead a very sheltered life.
In our situation we have to grab what we can and run, there'll be sunny days in the future when we can discuss individual performances and what needs tweeking.
Unfortunately, we're in the sh1t, so if you're drowning and the lifeboat picks you up just in time, don't go on about the crews response to you request for a cup of tea, there'll be a time for that later.

A horse that shits gold bricks......where do you get them from........Waltons in York Road?

I've led anything but a sheltered life.....not that that's got anything to do with it, you may not 'give a flying feck' as you put it other than the result, well I do, and 'the rest is irrelevant' you went on......well it isn't to me. As for the reply Talbot posted......well words fail me.

I like reports from Poolies.

Some people don't some people do, does it really need a slagging off.

Words haven’t failed you though, have they?

I’ll stand by my reply, it’s attention seeking based posting, giving some a four for fucks sake, we couldn’t buy an away win a few weeks ago, let alone a win

Don’t get me wrong, we’ve been piss poor for an age, but when we get a little bit of success, just take the fucker

I always like to see fans' reports on away games but (isn't there always a but ) my reaction, listening to the radio commentary on Friday, was pure relief and euphoria. Pools fans know that Maidstone were the latest in a series of bang average teams that Pools have struggled against for most of the season. Just at the minute, context is everything.

Pools looked dead and buried in every sense a month ago. Current performances have to be seen in the context of a terrible season. I predicted (not that a crystal ball was needed) that even if we were able to carry on playing games in the National League an inevitable injury crisis in a wafer-thin squad would do for us.

The turnaround under Bates is almost unbelievable. Self-belief in the team has skyrocketed, and the players are now capable of grinding out a result even when half of a makeshift defence is playing in the wrong position. Apart from Rodney, there's nothing on the bench except kids and half-fit players returning from injury. It'll be the same tomorrow from the sound of things.

There'll be time soon enough for fans' retained lists and the rest, but just now the priority is getting enough points to stay in this division. I hope bottom of the league Guiseley have their worst game of the season tomorrow. I hope Pools play well - but frankly another win is all I care about.

I only accept reports from hat cams


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Really, so instead of just being glad we've turned a corner, you're happy to be pedantic about the nature of the result. Well I'm just happy we have, how we did it is irrelevant given our dire position.
If someone throws me a rope, I don't care who made the rope, I'm just relieved. Whereas you may accept it, but would like a full breakdown of it's affect on the planet before committing yourself.

5 games without defeat, 3 wins in a row, 3 unbeaten away. Its nothing short of remarkable considering not long ago it didnt look like we could win another game. I think we all this team is nowhere near good enough, but at least we are getting results against other poor teams now.

And the first goal was a beauty of a team goal.

Yeah,shut the fook up Talbot.

You fucking tramp, your breath reeks, I can smell it from here

Really, so instead of just being glad we've turned a corner, you're happy to be pedantic about the nature of the result. Well I'm just happy we have, how we did it is irrelevant given our dire position.
If someone throws me a rope, I don't care who made the rope, I'm just relieved. Whereas you may accept it, but would like a full breakdown of it's affect on the planet before committing yourself.[/quote][/quote]

Where have I said I'm not glad to have turned a corner or pedantic for that matter?, I'm criticising people who are being far too critical of fellow fans (in a unnecessarily nasty way) for no other reason than being 'clever' .....methinks you are just making up things to suit your argument.

I like it when we all play nicely on here. Especially when the team is in form.

If we win today we're safe. I'm looking forward to posts about dinners and fillums and holiday destinations.

St Oswald's Church is the only church in Guiseley and is also the closest church to Vic Park.

Coincidence?

I think not!

Did you get an A-Z for Xmas....?

Much better: