By Eggy_Poolie
November 21 2006

They say football is a results driven business and its a good job for Hartlepool. Hartlepool won the game but only after making the fans endure 120 of poor, boring and monotonous football.

In the first half, Pools had the majority of the possesion it was the same old problem of the ball getting played backwards from the midfield and we never looked like scoring. In the second half Rochdale hit back and it was only thanks to some superb saves from Dimi that Hartlepool didnt crash out at the first stage.

Pools best chance came from Eifion Williams as his shot from distance was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar. Pools never created any real goal scoring opportunities but we had several half chances with Daly, Boland, and Brown all getting shots away.

At half time the game was 0-0 and many Sky viewers will have been reaching for the remote to put 'Eastenders' or 'Im a celebrity' on.

In the second half Pools almost scored straight away but Jon Daly's effort was well saves by the Rochdale keeper.

The second half though was Dimi's time to shine. He made a string of out-of-this-world saves. He made an unbelievable triple save and stopped a superb freekick from working its way inside the far post. Pools were also saved by Willie Boland as he managed to clear a corner off the line.

After the Rochdale onslaught the game settled down in the middle of the pitch with both sides willing to accept extra time and neither side really looked to attack

The full time whistle went and the Sky viewers who didnt change channel at half time were diving for the remotes.

In the first half of extra time it should have been a Hartlepool penalty when a header by Jon Daly was practically caught by the Rochdale defender but the spineless ref decided he wouldnt notice as he must of been the only person in the ground who didnt see it.

Soon after that Rochdale should have taken the lead when Sako placed a free header over the bar and then Murray smashed his shot straight at Dimi.

The game was inevitably heading for penalties

Humphreys, Boland, Daly and Clarke were all successful from 12 yards making it enought for Pools to win the penalties 4-1 after both Barker (over the bar) and Goodall (saved) missed their penalties

Over all it was a poor performance on a freezing night and if we keep putting in performances like that crowds will be down to 2 700 for league games aswell