By Albatross
March 19 2005

Just what the Doctor ordered! Hartlepool United got back to winning ways with a 2-1 win against Bradford City; with some of our playoff rivals dropping points things look considerably brighter for Pools tonight. Valley Parade was bathed in sunlight, a big turnout of Poolies was expected, and we had players back from injury at long last; the signs were good. Not looking quite so good though was Adam Boyd; he was warming up with the rest of the side, but with bandages on both knees was obviously suffering still. Cooper made a raft of changes, and Boyd was one of the players out - presumably though as he was well enough to sit on the bench matters weren't too serious. Pools lined up with Provett, Craddock, Nelson, Westwood, Robertson, Humphreys, Tinkler, Sweeney, Robson, Williams and Porter; Dimi, Boyd, Clark and Strachan were joined on the bench by Istead. Initially I wondered if we were going to play 4-5-1, but as Pools lines up it was obvious that Williams had been pushed up front alongside Porter while Humphreys was asked to play on the right wing. We were treated to "Amarillo", with about half the crowd seeming to be joining in with Tony Christie, and then "The City Slickers", a group of Dancing Girls that numbered precisely four. As the officials warmed up, the girls performed a routine to "Men in Black"....

Bradford kicked off towards the Pools fans, managing to give us a throw in in about four seconds, but with Pools in determined mood it was to be some time before they crossed half-way with any real menace. Porter was fouled as Pools attacked down the right inside the first minute; Robertson's Free Kick from the flank was put behind at the far post for a corner. The corner broke in the direction of Tinkler, who saw his shot from the edge of the area blocked by Weatherall before the ball was finally cleared away.

On 3 minutes some nimble footwark from Hugh allowed him to win the ball and break down the left before being fouled; his low cross was cleared and then Porter intercepted and tried to play in Sweeney, who was crowded out in the box. A long throw from Robson into the box was cleared, and Tinkler tried an ambitious effort from 30 yards or more - he collected the loose ball but couldn't turn quickly enough and his shot never looked close to going in.

Bradford finally managed to cross the halfway line in the fifth minute, winning a series of throws down the Pools right; but with Craddock equal to his task, there never looked likely to be any danger.

Porter was next to show for Pools, collecting a throw in before turning well and heading into the box - but also into a wall of home defenders that prevented him getting a shot away. Bradford now tried to attack down their right flank, but with the defence looking well organised could only play a limp ball into the box from a central position that was easy for Provett to collect virtually unchallenged. Pools were soon back on the attack though; within seconds, Robson won the ball on the flank before cutting inside and playing a superb ball for Eifion Williams to get onto; he shot from the edge of the box but found Henderson on form to parry the ball away; Humphreys picked the ball up in the right channel, but chose to shoot with his left foot and put the ball comfortably wide.

Pools were continuing to look the most likely side to take the lead, and put together a superb move on 13 minutes. Humphreys collected the ball wide on the right, played a 1-2 with Sweeney as he cut inside, and then played the ball across to the left wing for Robson; Robson got into the box and tried to cross - but too close to the keeper, who claimed it safely at the near post.

Bradford were stating to come into things a little more, and Pools had to deal with a good cross from their right on 17 minutes - Nelson got a vital touch with his head that took the ball away from the Bradford player lurking at the far post and allowed RObertson to clear. A minute later Robson chanced his arm from 35 yards, forcing a save from Henderson who initially spilled the ball before grabbing it at the second attempt. Bradford were next to push forward, with a couple of dangerous moments on 20 minutes; a cross in from the right was punched away by Provett, and the return ball was headed clear by Westie as the Pools defence continued to look solid.

Pools were continuing to probe for an opening, but were perhaps becoming a little too guilty of looking for glory. Sweeney was the next to try a long-range effort on 21 minutes, latching on to a Humphreys flick before sending a 30 yarder just wide. Bradford were not looking like creating much either, but almost struck lucky on 22 minutes. Morrison tried a 25 yard shot that Provett seemed to have saved comfoprtably enough - but he could only parry it, and it looked to have fallen for Cooke. Having conceded two rebound goals some feared the worst - but Provett did well to block Cooke's shot before Pools hacked the ball clear.

Eifion Williams tried his luck from distance on 23 minutes; he picked up the ball and ran with it before unleashing a 30 yard shot that wasn't far wide. Five minutes latera good move down the Pools right, with Humphreys playing the ball through to Porter, who then pulled it across for Eifion on the edge of the box, gave the Welshman a better chance; however he again sent his shot wide.

Bradford then looked to get down the Pools left, and there semed to be a coming together between Nelson and Windass as they jumped together for the ball; certainly Nelson was holding his face, and seemed to be spitting out bits of mouthguard and indicating he'd collected an elbow - no action was taken. It was soon after though; Morrison was breaking forward from his own half and went looking for the foul; Craddock duly obliged, and received a yellow card for his troubles.

Pools were awarded a free kick on the left, about 40 yards out, on 30 minutes after Summerbee handballed; Robertson swung the ball across, but it was taken by Henderson. Pools continued to press though, with Robson getting down the flank and delivering a good-looking cross that was taken superbly by Henderson. Robson then picked up the ball in midfield a minute later and tried another long-range effort - this time he wrapped his foot around it too much though, screwing it well wide.

Nelson was the recipient of some more rough treatment on 22 minutes, this time from Cooke; the Ref did blow up for a foul, but decided just to speak to Cooke.

Robson was revelling in his role as winger, and was involved in the action again on 35 minutes. Robson broke away, played the ball through to Williams, and Eifion swung it out to Humphreys who was in acres of space on the right; the Pools captain mis-controlled though and the opportunity was lost. Two minutes later and Humphreys started a move on the right; he played the ball to Craddock, who played it to Porter's feet; he tried to play in Sweeney, but it was a mite too high and he couldn't divert the ball towards goal. Shortly after Craddock tried a cross from deep that almost embarrassed the keeper but went just over the bar.

Pools had looked by far the more dangerous side, and it was fully deserved when they finally went ahead. Eifion Williams was pushed down by Weatherall as he tried to latch on to a long clearance; Robertson played a short free kick to Porter on the left edge of the penalty area, and the Aussie squirmed past a challenge before delivering a cross that EIFION WILLIAMS stooped low to head into the net.

Bradford immediately tried to buck their ideas up, and Morrison latched onto a sliced clearance from Westie on 43 minutes before laying the ball across to Schumacher; the midfielders effort was woeful though, and went well wide and high. From the Goal Kick Provett almost gifted Bradford an equaliser; his kick was poor and intercepted by Windass, who crossed from the right to the lurking Cooke - only for Provett to make amends with a great smothering save.

Half Time then, and Pools were in a well-deserved lead. Bradford had to be honest looked short on imagination and inspiration in the final third; Pools meanwhile were displaying the organisation we had been lacking, and while we were hardly in danger of over-running our opponents had certainly been more adventurous.

You'd expect Bradford to come out for the second half with a point to prove, and that's precisely what they did. Bridge-Wilkinson played Cooke in on 48 minutes, Provett making what in the end was a comfortable save as the forward shot straight at him; and the Pools keeper had to make a decent claim from a Corner on 51 minutes as the home side started to come forward more. Porter did get a chance to break forward on 52 minutes, and Wetherall was rightly booked for an attempt to body-check the Pools forward. Hugh was called forward and sent his shot clear over the goal - although the noise of the thud as it hit the stand was enough to show he'd not been holding back with it!

Pools were starting to get moving in attack again though, and on 55 minutes Porter collected a throw in on the right before cutting in and earning a corner as his cross was put behind at the near post. Robson's corner was cleared out tp Tinkler, who hooked a shot in from the edge of the box that went a couple of feet over the bar.

When Bradford finally did score on 59 minutes, there was a note of controversy. The ball had been played down the left channel, and as Westie and a Bradford player battled for the ball it looked like the Pools defender had won - only to seem to be tripped as he tried to clear. Nelson had to come across and play the ball out for a corner; Morrison lifted the corner into the box and BOWER headed past Provett.

Pools immediately started to press forward again, and a long throw from Humphreys on the right found Craddock and was played across to Porter; his shot though was just wide from 20 yards out. A minute later Pools were on the attack again, working the ball down the right before Sweeney tried to get a shot in - he was crowded out though and the ball was cleared.

Meanwhile Bradford hadn't given up on the win either, and a cross from the right was headed well over by Cooke on 65 minutes, follwoed a minute later by a dangerous cross from Bridge-Wilkinson that Craddock cleared at the far post. A corner from the same player was headed over by Atherton shortly after.

Pools won themselves a corner on 68 minutes, and tried their short corner routine; when Robertson swung the ball over Nelson had a shot blocked before the ball was cleared upfield, where Bridge-Wilkinson got on the end of it; his effort from distance though went wide.

Pools were starting to press again now though, and Porter laid a Humphreys throw for Craddock to put in a dangerous cross that won Pools a corner. Robson's delivery was too low, but his return cross was better and was cleared away for a throw on the left, level with the area. Robson took it long, a Bradford defender at the near post flicked the ball on perfectly, and JOEL PORTER jumped highest at the far post to nod home.

Cooke was lucky not to be booked on 74 minutes; he was adjudged to have fouled Provett, and seemed to be determined to protest his innocence. Pools though were in the ascendancy, and a spell of pressure arough the 75 minute mark saw some increasingly depserate defending from the home team who were now showing signs of panic whenever the ball came near to Porter especially. Todd decided it was time to change things around, taking off Atherton, Cooke and Morrison in favour of Swift, Forrest and Armstorng; meanwhile Adam Boyd - now bandaged on just one knee - took the field in place of Tinkler. Pools rearranged, with Humphreys moving inside, Williams taking to the right wing, and Boyd joining Porter up front. Almost immediately Pools looked to have a chance to go further ahead; Boyd picked up a short throw and played in Porter just inside the area; he was bundled to the ground by a Bradford defender - Wetherall? - a stonewall penalty; amazingly the ref waved play on!

Schumacher showed again why he's not a forward on 79 minutes, putting in a weak long-range effort that was easy meat for Provett; Cooper then made another change, bringing Istead on for Robertson. Robson dropped back to full-back, Istead seemed to be playing left wing; possibly Coops was looking to run the clock down in the corners, but this time we didn't get the opportunity. Pools were sitting back, and Bradford needed no invitation to come forward at this stage; and on 87 minutes they thought they might have had a penalty against Nelson for handball. Certainly there was a hand in there; whether it was Nelson's or the Bradford City player's, and whether it was inside the box in any case, were impossible to tell. In a way it maybe evened things up after the Ref - who also overturned one or two of his assistant's (correct) decisions had failed to give a clear one at the other end.

Then came another controversial moment. The ball was played into the Pools box from the left, there was a huge scramble that eventually saw the ball cleared for a throw in; but, it turned out, there had been some "afters". In best Arsene Wenger tradition, all the Pools fans can legitmately say they couldn't see it properly, seated as we were at the far end of the ground; but comments from one or two City fans outside the ground indicated that Windass and a Pools defender landed together in a heap, and that one or two Pools player took the opportunity of the obstructed view of the none-too-observent Ref to settle a few scores... the fans behind the far goal were incandescent with rage when, after things calmed down a little on the pitch, the Ref booked only one player - Bridge-Wilkinson of the home side, and awarded a free kick in our favour.

Porter was replaced by Clark in the first minute of four to be added, and Bradfrd continued to try and get the equaliser. It was real backs to the wall stuff, but the Pools defence held firm and after clearing one last corner from Bridge-Wilkinson the whistle went to send the large travelling contingent home happy.

So our four game losing streak has come to an end, and with some of the other results going quite favourably for Pools we are once again in the driving seat in terms of a playoff position. The difference today was organisation; with Westie in defence and Tinkler in midfield, we looked very solid defensively and that gave us the platform to go forward with more confidence. There were a lot of big pluses today: Westie, Tinks and Hugh returned, Robson caused plenty of trouble down the flank having been freed of his defensive duties, and we looked threatening in attack despite the lack of our leading scorer. The biggest plus for me though had to be Joel Porter. He scored once, set the other up, and was a thorn in the side of the Bradford defence all afternoon. After a shaky start, he's rapidly becoming a deserved crowd favourite; he's scored 14 times already this season, and his effort and direct running at defenders mean that he's contributing a lot to the team as a whole. Sign him up for longer Coops - I'd like to see him at Pools for a long time to come.