By Albatross
January 7 2005

It's the FA Cup 3rd Round, and what a contrast to last season. Then we took 10,000 to the Stadium of Light; this year considerably fewer than that will be at Victoria Park to see Hartlepool United take on Boston United. Still, HUFC should have a much better chance to progress to Round 4.
Although Pools are strong favourites to reach the fourth round, as usual Cooper will have done his homework and won't be trusting to luck. Luck though is something that you could argue Pools have had this season in the cup - three home ties, all against sides from lower divisions. Given our overall home record this season of P17 W15 D2 if you count our Penalty win over Hull in the LDV, and our current run (again including the LDV tie as a win) of twelve wins in a row at the Vic, you can't help but feel that it will take something pretty special from our opponents to make it into the fourth round draw. Certainly it's not the tie that Boston would have been hoping for.

Boston's season so far has been one that has seen them making solid progress without exactly setting the world on fire; currently they sit 10th in Division 3, within striking distance of a playoff place but needing to improve their overall form somewhat to really challenge for the top 7. The early part of the season seemed to be dominated by the arrival of Paul Gascoigne as Player/Coach; but after two months and five appearances Gazza left in early October. Since the spotlight left York Street with Gascoigne, they have done little to attract it back; in particular, some dodgy away form has prevented them from really pushing on. Their away record shows just two away wins in the league, against the current bottom two of Kidderminster and Cambridge, four draws, and seven defeats - although they can add an away victory over Conference side Hereford in the last round to that less than impressive showing.

Boston though will feel that they have some hope. Early in the season they beat Luton in the League Cup in extra time, and in Northern Irish International Andy Kirk they have a striker that's got a highly impressive strike rate this season; having signed over the summer, injury kept him out until the middle of September but he's still scored 14 goals in just 19 appearances. On Monday he started up front alongside Daryl Clare, now in his second spell at Boston - but the forward that's proven himself to be prolific in the Conference is still failing to do the business in Division 3, and was substituted at half time. Clare is also Cup-Tied having played for Chester in the competition. It may well be that partnering Kirk will be Jason Lee, still possibly best remembered for Skinner and Baddiel's "Pineapple on his head" skit that has blighted his career. Lee has notched eight times this season and provides a big threat in the air if he plays - however he is struggling with a virus at the moment. That may leave Evans having to play Kevin James, who arrived on loan from Notts Forest over the Christmas Period.

For Pools, the good news is that Adam Boyd is likely to be fit to play against the club he spent two spells on loan with last season, and with Darrell Clarke having come through the reserves (or alternatively youth team plus him!) win over Brandon in the Durham Senior Cup on Wednesday night, the only player unavailable for selection would seem to be Mickey Barron. Given that, I'd expect Pools to stick with the same lineup yet again.

Steve Evans seems to be trying to gee his troops up, having said in the press this week that he believes there will be at least one shock but that it won't involve a Premier side - and Boston fans with long memories will be remembering our only other FA Cup meeting when the then non-league side beat us 2-1 at their own ground. However with Cooper definately not taking the game for granted it's hard to see any result other than a home win - 3-0 to Pools, Boyd, Porter and Sweeney to score.