By Albatross
November 7 2003

Hartlepool United start their FA Cup campaign against Non-League Whitby Town. The Seasiders look set to bring a good number of fans (650+) to the Vic - but will they be going home with their tails between their legs, or will Pools once again be the victim of an upset? Although we've played Whitby many times in friendlies, this will be the first competetive game between the two sides. Currently Whitby are three promotions away from us, but they should not be underestimated.

Recent form though has not been brilliant to say the least. Excluding the FA Cup, you have to go back as far as 17th September to find their last win - a 3-2 victory over Bradford PA. Since then they've played six times in the league and lost four - most recently 2-1 at joint leaders Droylsden last Saturday.

In the cup it's been a different matter though. Entering in the second qualifying round, they overcame Winsford United of the North-West Counties League 3-0, Warrington Town of the same league after a replay, and then Bromsgrove Rovers, also after a replay. Each of these victories has come at the Turnbull Ground though, indicating that they're not so hot on their travels.

Top scorer so far for the Seasiders is midfielder Craig Veart with eight - including five penalties. Beyond that, it's not been easy scoring goals for Whitby. They lost one of last season's joint top scorers Aron Wilford to York over the summer, while the other - Lee Ure - has hit the net just once. Former Middlesbrough winger (and sometime Pools loanee) Anthony Ormerod has hit the net four times, former Darlington forward Paul Campbell three times, and recent signing (and former Man City trainee) Gary Browne has also scored three. Browne's arrival has proved especially fortuitous for Whitby, as Jamie Burt - who re-joined them in the summer after a spell at Chesterfield - has moved on to Blyth Spartans.

When a Non-League team does well in the FA Cup, there's always the romantic view in the media of valiant postmen, teachers, window cleaners and the like taking on the professionals. However, a look at Whitby's squad reveals that although the players are part-timers, many have had professional experience or are being looked at by league clubs. As well as Campbell (who looks set to miss the game through suspension), there's another former Loid in Adam Reed for example; and there's another player who's appeared for Pools in addition to Ormerod - veteran defender Tony Hall made one sub appearance for Pools in 1987 as part of an odyssey around the British Isles that's seen him play in English, Scottish and Irish League Football as well as in non-league. Graeme Williams spent time on the books at Aston Villa, Brian Linighan likewise at Sheffield Wednesday, while Ben Dixon has had experience at Blackpool and Lincoln. A number of lower-league scouts have taken a look at Lee Ure, while Gary Browne will be hoping to impress any watching league scouts as well - he's recently spent time at York and will be hoping a good performance will attract more attention.

This makes Whitby far from no-marks against Pools. There's plenty of experience in their ranks, and a few players who will feel they have a point to prove - particularly the likes of Ormerod and Browne. Adam Reed would I'm sure love to put one over on Pools, and overall there will be plenty of determination on their part to go for a bit of glory. The club could do with the money from a victory too.

Pools recent form will be giving them some hope as well. It can't be denied that recent results - and possibly more importantly performances - have not been impressive. A recent bout of illness in the squad may not have helped matters, but with our strikers seeming to be out of form, the midfield looking jaded, and the defensive unit unsettled somewhat by the constant question of who will be at left back this week there are serious issues for Neale Cooper to address.

Assuming he's now fully recovered from the bout of illness that saw him substituted last weekend John Brackstone is the most likely starter at left back, and the rest of the defence pretty much picks itself. In the midfield, Ritchie has been bang out of form on the left, while the combination of Tinkler and Strachan in the middle isn't working as well as it was and Clarke continues to frustrate on the right. That's still the most likely quartet, but I'd like to see some changes. By bringing Robson in on the left - or even switching Trigger over there - we could give Humphreys a try in the centre alongside Tinks to see if he can produce the creativity we've been so sadly lacking recently; on the right we could then give either Strachan, McCann or maybe Eifion a run - though this is a problem position in some ways even worse than left back. Easter for winger anyone?

Up front, Cooper has to choose between Robinson, Richardson, Williams and Gabbiadini - none of whom has particularly pushed their claims recently. Richardson did OK as a lone forward at Meadow Lane and would certainly prove awkward for the Whitby defence; I would partner him with Robinson.

No matter who Pools put out, in theory they should be too good for a Whitby side that lost in pre-season to a team that included just two of tomorrow's likely starters in Provett and Westwood, and maybe two or three others in with a shout (Gabbiadini, Robson and Bass). This however is Cup Football, and while I still favour Pools to win I don't think we'll have an easy time of it. 2-1 to Pools, our goals coming from Robinson and Humphreys, while Ormerod proves a point by tucking it away for Whitby.