Sweens - 14th goal

By Charlie Summerbell
April 23 2011

With two 17-year-olds and a reserve goalkeeper making their debuts against a side desperate for safety, a point from a 1-1 draw at home to Tranmere Rovers wasn’t a bad return for Hartlepool United. But they really deserved to win, and boss Mick Wadsworth was rightly full of praise for the newcomers.

Youth team regulars Josh Rowbotham and Darren Holden started at right-back and left-back, with Andy Rafferty in goal, but with great help from the more experienced players in the team Pools didn’t look bad.

If they could have found better finishing the young trio could have celebrated winning debuts, because Tranmere looked desperate throughout the game and got their points thanks to a late scramble when Pools should really have been out of sight.

In fact, Holden – only 17 three months ago - played a part in the Pools goal when his long throw was headed on by skipper Sam Collins and Antony Sweeney notched his 14^th of the season.

Michael Mackay was given his first senior start of the season, up front alongside Adam Boyd and might have doubled the lead, but his lob cleared the Tranmere bar and later he was hauled down in the box only for a clear penalty to be denied.

Second half sub Denis Behan had three clear chances, his first and last blocked and the second, from well over 30 yards, smacking the bar.

But Tranmere levelled near the end when Rafferty blocked a shot and Dale Jennings tapped in.

wadsworth told the Northern Echo: “I'm pleased with what we did and tried to do. The young boys and goalkeeper did exceptionally well and long-term that's good for us.

"Both Josh and Darren are 17, both were assured and didn't panic and brought something to the team. Right through my career, it's been a lovely thing to bring young players into the team.

"It was excellent and we deserved to win the game, no doubt about that. But I'm learning all the time and seeing what players can bring to the side.

"The experienced players helped them and I was probably more nervous than them as I want them to do well.”

Pools go to promotion contenders Southampton on Monday and can expect a big crowd to back the home team, but Wadsworth says his players can cause an upset if they get stuck in.

But whatever the result, take a look at the League One table and ask yourself one simple question - when Chris Turner quit the club soon after the season started and results were looking dodgy, would you have taken a safe mid-table finish?