By Poolie Kev
December 13 2005

Poolie Kev certainly enjoyed the win over Bournemouth on Saturday, and particularly the return to action of a couple of our long-term injured. However, he can't help wondering if the Ball Boys have been added to the casualty list.... That Albatross hey?? There’s me slaving over a hot keyboard and there’s him blithely ignoring my efforts. That’s going to cost you a pint at Walsall, squire!!

I mentioned in the Colchester item about the fickleness of football fans and particularly the denizens of Hartlepool. Perhaps ladies and gentlemen I misjudged you. More knowledgeable seers than me were suggesting that the return of the Clark(e) sisters would herald the return to the highs of last season and I was sceptical, believing that two swallows would not a summer make. How wrong I was and how humble is this pie I’m eating. Ben Clark was a revelation on Saturday, breaking up the play, coming away with the ball and delivering telling pass after telling pass until running out of steam in the second half. It was also noticeable that we came somewhat under the cosh when he departed the Field of Honour with jelly legs three quarters of the way through the game. The depleted crowd certainly did not want him to go and almost immediately the voices of protest were heard, assuming that the decision was a bad tactical one, rather than a necessary matter of fresh legs. Do cut the management a little slack fairly soon chaps, please.

Now Darrell of that ilk was not so instrumental. On the field in fact he contributed very little, which is hardly surprising after almost two years out with injury and I’m sure that with more bench appearances he’ll adjust, perhaps getting more of his colleagues booked in the meantime!! I wonder if Mickey Barron dished out a slap for that one, being the skipper and all…??

But the effect that the club comedian had on the crowd though was palpable. On warming up down the line towards the Town End in the first half he received a spontaneous round of applause and when he stripped to come on in the second half the buzz of anticipation was only surpassed by the round of applause on the running out and introduction of Hugh the Hammer. Good to see them both back and with the additional start of Mickey Barron, the shape and coherence in the team made the football a lot less fraught and a damn sight more measured and therefore entertaining. It is almost impossible to estimate the points we’ve lost in the absence of the injured players that we would have in the bank by now but I can think of at least five games we would have won at a canter and you know where that would have put us don’t you?? ‘Nuff said.

Critics of the squad system adopted by the management might now have to admit that when you’ve got a player in tatters (Tinks), one with a broken toe (Eifion) one with a broken arm (Lee Bullock) a serial offender and therefore disciplinary absentee who takes a knock or two because of his combative style of play (Tommy) and a trio of surgery veterans (Boydy, Joel and James Brown), it’s quite important to have a few spares laying around. Oh and Mr Royle?? Can we please borrow young Dean for the rest of the season, sir, please, can we, huh??

Any road up, here’s my question of the week. Where the hell are the ball boys?? With reduced gates, obviously things have to be shaved a little here and there and I had the impression that my sausage roll was a little shorter than normal on Saturday, but the real issue is, and I don’t think they’re paid staff, where are the ball boys?? They were never the most dynamic of movers and easily confused when given two footballs to deal with whereby either two or none would end up on the field of play but now, when we’re 1-0 down, the opposing keeper can legitimately spend three minutes over a goal kick a la Bonzo from Colchester. So where are they?? Has anyone noticed anything different about the pies??

Anyway, mixed fortunes again from the lads, a revelation at Bradford, a shambles against Tamworth, unlucky against Colchester and Jekyll and Hyde against Bournemouth but handily 2-0 up before the change into Mr Hyde took place.
Let’s see which incarnation takes the field at Walsall, who are predicted to be without one Chris Westwood due to injury. Ah well, I used to like him but he scored against us in June, the rotter.