Coops - relieved

By Charlie Summerbell
September 2 2012

It wasn't a classic game and the style of victory didn't even border on the spectacular, but it was important for Hartlepool United to chalk up their fiurst win of the season against rock-bottom Scunthorpe at Victoria Park.

Neale Cooper will be hoping the 2-0 victory is the stepping stone to better things after his team’s stuttering start to the season … stutters that continued in this game as Pools made heavy going of disposing of a team getting off to a lot worse start than their own.

Cooper admitted to the club website: The most important thing was to get the win.”

He added: “We played some good stuff in the first half and had chances to kill the game off.

“We need to be more disciplined and pass the ball better, at times we gave it away needlessly.

“We’ve played better and lost, so now we’ve got to try and get on a run.”

Jonathan Franks reacted well after a James Poole cross flew across the area and scored from an angle to give Pools a first-half lead.

But Scunthorpe had their chances and it was never comfortable, though it should have been when Josh Walker was sent off 12 minutes from time when he handled Antony Sweeney’s header on the line.

But Steve Howard’s penalty was saved by Sam Slocombe and Pools had to wait until four minutes from time for sub Luke James to volley in the clincher from the edge of the area.

A win is a win, and while Pools didn’t look like world-beaters, they looked better than before, the return of Paul Murray in midfield making a big difference.

At least the League One table makes more comfortable reading now, but Carlisle will be much stiffer opposition when they visit the Vic next weekend.