By Eggy_Poolie
October 18 2006

A comfortble 3-1 has put Pools into the next round of the Johnstons Paint Trophy. Goals by Bullock, Foley and Humphreys saw Pools ease to victory. Delroy Facey scored for the visitos who also had 2 players sent off

A good result for a Pools side that consisted of several reserve players against a Rotherham team of similar nature. A crowd of 1 800 'crowded' into The Vic for what was in the end a very comfortable game.

Hartlepool took the lead through Lee Bullock on 12 minutes. James Brown danced past the defense and laid the ball back for Bullock to place it into the net.

On 28 minutes Rotherham were level after Facey got on the end of a left wing free kick and the ball bounced into the net.

Throughout the first half Pools held their own and looked the more likely to score. Jim Provett made some good saves and with Philip Turnbull playing well at right back, Brackstone steady at left back and Bullock and Strachan holding the centre of midfield Pool looked the more likely to win and Pools took the lead just before the break when Foley beat the defense and lashed a powerful shot into the top corner.

The first half was short of highlights but the second half would give the fans plenty to talk about. The second half started with a red card for Woods after he elbowed Stachan in the head challenging for the ball.

Just after the hour mark Ritchie Humphreys came off the bench and within minutes got his first goal of this season to make it 3-1.

Then the referee and his linesman made a right mess of things. The linesman gave a freekick to Rotherham and must of told the ref to send one of our players off. The referee with the red card out then went back to the linesman and after a second decision Pools were given the free kick. Then the ref and same linesman gave missed the most obvious handball when Maidens effort was punched out of play by the Rotherham defender.

Then came the worlds most weird red card. A ball over the top to Foley was just about to put him through on goal when Sharps (the Rotherham stand in captain) decided to catch the ball, an act which saw him sent off

Pools will now face Doncaster Rovers in the next round at Victoria Park