Joe G - goal

By Charlie Summerbell
April 14 2010

Unlike all the other teams round the League One danger zone, Hartlepool United need to finish well clear of the bottom four this season because of the threat of a points deduction hanging over them following the unforgiveable mistake of fielding Gary Liddle when he should have been suspended.

But on a good night for the team, the players went a long way towards moving into the comfort zone with a 3-0 win over relegated Stockport.
And as a bonus, other results went their way as Tranmere lost at home to Wycombe, while Gillingham and Southend both drew.
After the game Chris Turner described Pools as a mid-table team, which is only slightly accurate – they are six points behind mid-table Carlisle and Walsall, while fourth-bottom Tranmere are seven behind, and that could be dramatically reduced if and when points are taken off Pools.
So while beating Stockport was a vital result, it’s not all over yet and on Saturday Pools are at home to Colchester, a team desperate for points to climb into the play-off zone.
Turner’s team needs at least one more win for comfort – the old safety target of 50 points has to be raised because of the disciplinary threat hanging over them.

And even on Tuesday night, against the weakest team in League One, it wasn’t all plain sailing – Stockport had two good chances before Pools took the lead, Scott Flinders saving the first and Stockport wasting the second.

Once Joe Gamble opened the scoring from the edge of the area, it was one-way traffic as Pools’ Irish squad took a grip on the game, Leon McSweeney crossing for Yorkshireman Andy Monkhouse (right) to score his 11^th of the season and late on Roy O’Donovan wrapped it all up.
The calls for Turner be go continued, but in his programme notes for the game chairman Ken Hodcroft made it clear there is no chance of that happening for a variety of reasons, not least a financial one.
He omitted to mention the Great Gary Liddle Suspension Scandal, but he did write: “Football is all about supporting your club,” but then of course he would say that as support dwindles because of the team’s inconsistency.

However, he should also remember an even bigger footy truism: “Football is all about WINNING.”

And not picking players who are suspended.