I doubt it will happen, first teamers playing, and not sure about the positions of some of the youth team, but this would be my happy medium side for tonight, giving some fringe players a run out, some struggling players lacking confidence game time , mixed with a bit of youthful energy, that should be able to give Darlo a game. We should be looking to win this trophy. Where is the pride?.

1.Catterick
2.Richardson
3. Murphy
4. Anderson
5.Cunningham
6.Newton
7.Willougby
8. McLaughlin or Hawkins
9.Scott
10. Muir
11.Shepherd

Our lot usually train on a tuesday so I would guess that most would rather play than train.
I still expect it to be a mix of first teamers with a few young lads in each half with the older ones swapping at half time.
Should be a laugh anyway whatever the score!

Some first team activity then

https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news ... d-preview/

Perhaps Money is seeing a huge bananrama skin here so hes leaving it to the troops to take the rap it goes tits up.

I would have thought some small radio station would have at least covered this match.

If not i will just have to read my Carol Kirkwood 2019 Annual again.

Bring em all on,ron. .they could do with the exercise..ha ha ha

This is the official line up for tonight

Catterick, Kioso, Cunningham, Miller, Hawkins, McLaughlin, Amos, Newton, Kitching, Hawkes, Muir.

Subs: Leonard, Fox, Boyle, Shepherd, Rennison.

Strong enough line up, I would imagine if a couple play well, say 8 out 10 performance they could force their way into contention for a starting place on Saturday.

That's pretty much the second 11, only 1 youth team player. How come that Luka Murphy isn't getting a game? Is he injured? Didn't play for the youth side in the week either.

I assume that lad James Butler we had on loan from Stoke has gone back? Can't remember seeing an announcement but his name has disappeared from the 1st team profiles.

Darlo gone full strength unchanged from the weekend so it’s a good opportunity for that young team to impress the manager, after Saturday I’d imagine places are up for grabs!

Went back couple weeks ago.

Darlo Maddison, Trotman, O’Hanlon, Smith, Ainge, Galbraith, Elliott, Wheatley, Saunders, Thompson, Nicholson.

Subs: Lingthep, Hall, Glover, Burn, Henshall.

Pools on top opening 10 mins

Darlo 1 -0 Thompson

Darlo1 -Pools 2 Hawkins, Hawkes. The goal machine clicks into action!!

Aye! Good player that Hawkins Gerrin !

The game suddenly went from pointless friendly, why did we even show up, to most important game of the season, have that Darlo.

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Final score 2-1. How shite must the Loids be?

'Massive' win for us

Even our kids & reserves beat them.

#mindthegap

If we could hit a barn door we should have been 2 or 3 in front before you scored. Piss poor defending by Burn.
Oh well, we don't do cups

Decent crowd on....1,758 (139 Pools)

So we won 2-1 then?

Quite an amusing outcome really seen as more of them turned up than do for most League Games, they played a full strength team then lost to our reserves

I have just been catching up on the game on Twitter and the lad who writes for the Echo Craig Stoddart Tweeted (at 1-0) that loud laughs came from The Tinshed when the attendance was read out and 130 odd Pools fans were announced!! It’s funnier how seriously they took it and that many turned up for a nothing fixture seemingly more so than when they played Spennymoor in the League on Saturday yet still lost!!

It’s reassuring that they continue to be the gift that keeps on giving even now when we thought things were grim for us The state of some of the Burberry clad youths he put pictures on of as well, I imagine most of our 130 went for a nice night out posturing around the large OB presence, probably a lot of kids who have never experienced a real one while they have been old enough to pretend they are hard with a scarf wrapped around there face.

Sod the FA trophy, this is our route to Wembley.

I think Wembley was fully booked they have gone for the next best venue, Consett.

It will probably hard to get a ticket though due to the amount of Darlo fans who’ve already bought tickets for this massive event.

Maybe your biggest achievement in the past 10 years ??..A decent midweek work out for our lads as well .Everyone's a winner.

Well done to McGuckin and Hewitt - at least some of our first team squad have got the winning habit back, hope it rubs off onto a few more on Saturday.

Darlo (or for that matter other NL North teams in our region) could do worse than offer Lewis Hawkins a contract - it sounds like he was well on the way to earning one at York before he was recalled by Pools and then Sam Collins got the boot at York.

Hawkins is a decent utility player who always gives 100%.......would not like to lose him.

Just read it was Darlos second biggest crowd of the season The biggest was against York on Boxing Day (2200) who I imagine brought a good following so it could have been close to the most home fans all season, against Pools reserves in the Durham Cup

Minds here’s a though Sussex, 139 Pools fans have seen the new Darlo play more times than you and have seen one more game of football at Blackwell Meadows than you

He’s an honest 100% player but he’s not good enough he’s had countless chances, utility player? I am not even sure what he is a midfielder he’s not defensive and he doesn’t create or score.

Apparently Darlo were all over us, but its goals that count. McGuckin behind the scenes does a good job with the Youth team. Pleased for him, as he comes across as a nice bloke when I have met him. Hawkins is another one who falls into that category of players we haven't managed well. I was a fan 3 seasons ago, he looked as though he had bags of potential, but then went on the slippery slope. When he has been given a chance this season and last, he hasn't done himself justice. His level does now appear to be lower NL at best or most probably NLN.

Paydays like last nights are very welcome PJ..You'd have to be rolling in cash to mock the crowd that turned up.When do your parachute payments end ??

The quite beautiful and hilarious irony here is that as it was a Durham Cup game Pools get half the gate money. No police bill for us either.

Raj says cheers

Really, he said that ?? When do your parachute payments end Pj ? Will that bag of coins on the table this morning be enough ??

Yes really, A Darlo fan calling your club skint is like being called a nonce by Jimmy Saville.

You get half the receipts after expenses so yes you did have a police bill to contribute to!

I wasn’t really concentrating on facts whilst engaging with our Tarmac laying, lucky heather peddling friend.

I bet the Police presence was massively over the top was it? Nowhere to be seen if you get burgled, all over a bit of overtime for a nothing Football match that was never going to be well attended by Pools fans.

They arrested three people though, most probably to justify being there.

Massively over the top describes it exactly!