James Brown - winner

By Charlie Summerbell
August 23 2009

It’s too early in the season for a crisis, but Hartlepool were certainly in an uncomfortable League One situation after two home defeats in four days, but the away form which has let them down so often in the recent past rescued them as their first ever win at Gillingham produced three useful points thanks to a great goal from James Brown.

So it was a satisfying day all round for Chris Turner’s men as they kept their third clean sheet in three away games, including the Carling Cup win at Coventry. That's 300 minutes without conceding a goal, which compmpared to last season's away form is a massive improvement, based on the form of new keeper Scott Flinders and the partnership of Sam Collins and Gary Liddle in front of him.
With attractive home games against Burnley in the Carling Cup and Norwich in the League coming up in the next week, a win at Gillingham has set Pools up well.
Brown’s goal arrived midway through the second half, a great finish from the edge of the area in a game in which the defence again performed well and the attack always posed a threat.
No wonder Turner was a relieved man after the home setbacks against Charlton and Bristol Rovers.
Denis Behan again looked impressive alongside Brown up front and set up the chance for the goal, while at the back when the hard-working defence was breached, Flinders made a couple of vital saves.
Turner says Brown is nowhere near fully fit yet, and if that is the case we can expect more fireworks from the striker as the season progresses.
But for now the win at Priestfield at the end of a good all-round team display shows that the squad Turner has put together is not the pushover those two home defeats suggested they might be.

Bring on Burnley ...