Hartlepool United (H) League 1 Saturday 19/3/11.

[BathSaddler]

Attendance is 4,234.

[chestersaddler]

Ledesma just had one pushed onto the post

[chestersaddler]

2-2 Byfield :D :D :D :D :D

[BathSaddler]

2-2.

Now is not the time to be going to the eye specialist :( .

[BarnsleySaddler]

2-2
Think we have a game on our hands. :) Come on the lads.

[chestersaddler]

Yeovil are 3-2 up :(

[latviancheese]

Come on

[chestersaddler]

3-2 gray :D :D :D :D :D

[belgiansaddler]

come back kings :D

[belgiansaddler]

Big Clayton coming on :shock:

[Cheesebag]

Gew on!

[BarnsleySaddler]

What a turnaround. :D :D :D Keep it going.

[chestersaddler]

I think I need to stay away.

Missed two home games since before Christmas Bristol Rvs and today :twisted:

[chestersaddler]

4-2 yes indeedy :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[BarnsleySaddler]

I must be dreaming 4 now. :D :D :D :D

[BarnsleySaddler]

4 goals in 24 minutes, they must have found their scoring boots somewhere. :!:

[chestersaddler]

5-2 ledesma :D :D :D :D :D

[BarnsleySaddler]

5 now :D :D :D :D :D Improves the goal difference somewhat.

What a fight back.

Only drawback is Yeovil, Daggers and Tranmere all look like winning, at least we have not lost ground to them.

[Jolly Johnny]

4 goals in 24 minutes, they must have found their scoring boots somewhere. :!:

Yeah, I think ledesma brought them on for everyone when he came on!

Sign him up nowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!

[cumbria-saddler]

:lol:

im regretting not coming down......but im not too bothered that i've had to watch Jeff Stelling this afternoon though :D

[latviancheese]

Singing Walsall songs infront of the telly :lol:

[belgiansaddler]

Singing Walsall songs infront of the telly :lol:

That's the spirit :D

[belgiansaddler]

I think I need to stay away.

Missed two home games since before Christmas Bristol Rvs and today :twisted:

Rugger of Chester, don't you dare go again this season :mrgreen:

[devonsaddler]

Good win :D pity other results didnt go in our favour. :x

[latviancheese]

I think I need to stay away.

Missed two home games since before Christmas Bristol Rvs and today :twisted:

Ditto pretty much!

[Fray Bentos is God!]

Well...

Usually you go and separate a game with half-time. This one, you couldn't. It was just pre and post Ledesma.

Until he came on, we were absolutely abject. Not able to keep posession, not able to attack and shaky at the back. Basically, we were as bad as we have been under Hutchings.

Then the little Argentine lad got off the bench and absolutely terrorised the 'Pool defence.

To be honest, I can't describe the goals as I nearly gave myself an aneurysm celebrating the third and now I'll have to watch the highlights with the wench.

It's a massive shame that everybody around us won. Bastards.

[Pedagogue]

To re-work an old footballing cliché, this was not a game of two halves; it was a game of three thirds. For the first hour, we were utter garbage, lacking in ideas, skill and, most of all, confidence. Once our first goal went in, to pull the score back to 1-2, a sudden spark of belief could be seen. Once the equaliser went in, the Monkey-Hangers were totally overwhelmed and there was only going to be one winner.

Walker - maybe not his usual commanding self but had little to do.

Westlake - steady performance
Smith - signs that he is getting back to the Manny Smith of old.
Butler - if this guy doesn't get Player of the Season, then there is no justice in football. My man-of-the match again. Without him, we would have been dead and buried by half-time.
Williams - some dodgy moments in the first half and could be faulted with both of the 'Pools' goals but played a big part in the last half-hour fight-back.

Nicholls - did very little, still can't beat his man, with the ball at his feet.
Gbarssin - my first view of him; steady and nothing spectacular.
Richards - very poor in the first hour but sparked into life, later on.
Gray - see Richards, above.

Byfield - looked what he is - a player who has played very little over the last 6 months. His goal will do him the power of good.
Macken - subbed off, injured, after quarter of an hour.

Substitutes
Grigg (on for Macken) - too easily muscled off the ball and his touch let him down, at times, but he took his goal instinctively.
Ledesma (on for Nicholls) - very much an impact player; offered more than Nicholls (wow!) and always looked dangerous; took his free-kick goal, in stoppage time, superbly. Sponsors' MotM.
McDonald (on for Byfield) - only on for last few minutes as fresh legs, up front.

This match proved, if proof were needed, what a fragile thing confidence is. While Hartlepool built their two-goal lead, we looked nervous and unimaginative. Once we realised that Hartlepool were there for the taking, we looked a really good side.

I'm going to MK Franchise on Friday. I wonder which Walsall will turn up - the one from the first hour today, or the one from the last half-hour?

[andy22]

Just got in from the game and what a game.

First half we looked like a relegation side not able to pass or keep the ball and with little confidence. The 'Pool looked the better side and after there first goal it looked like they would take us apart.

Second half didn't start much better then Nichols was taken off and THE MESSIAH arrived. From that moment on Ledesma made all the difference and we started playing with conviction and passion. By the time the 3rd gaol went in i was just about in heaven and by the 5th well i'd got no voice left from screaming.

The Great escape is still on......... :D :D :D :D :D

[longdogs]

What they said. Absolutely shocking for an hour, but once we scored only one team was going to win it.

[tinned]

God that first half was awful. Even the most optomistic fans conceeded we were down (step forwatd MMF :wink: ). As we went 2 - 0 down it was all but over. Absolutley desperate, beyond belief. What happened after that? I'm not really sure. We just seemed to score at will. That surely must be the last start for Nicholls? The lad tries his hardest but I'm afraid it just isn't good enough.

What was that Dingle doing sitting in the family stand with his dirty orange shirt on? Got off the train 3 stops too soon?