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Overdue away win eases Pools drop fears

Sam Collins
By Clarence Rode March 5 2008
Sam Collins returned after suspension to bolster the Hartlepool defence and Michael Mackay got a rare chance in attack which he grabbed with both hands, scoring the only goal in a priceless win at Oldham. It was Pools first away win in 12 attempts, and helps to ease their relegation worries near the foot of the League One table.

MackayMackay (right) scored midway through the second half in a game Pools dominated so much that they should have won by more.
Collins, back after his four-match suspension, made a huge difference in the middle of the defence alongside Michael Nelson, while Andy Monkhouse and Jamie McCunnie also grabbed their chances to perform well as manager Danny Wilson made four changes from the team beaten at Bournemouth.
After the game, Wilson said that Mackay could be the team's secret weapon as they try to end their up-and-down season on a high note, and he may have to be, because top scorer Richard Barker went off in the first half with suspected knee ligament damage and he could be out for a while.
But if Mackay's good enough to be a secret weapon, why hasn't he played more often? He looked good enough for a more regular place at Boundary Park, and his goal was a gem as he sent as great lob over veteran keeper Mark Crossley.
On loan Graeme Lee and Godwin Antwi were both left out of the team as Wilson gave long overdue chances to Monkhouse and McCunnie.
It makes you wonder what mjight have heppened if he'd done it earlier.
The result means Pools are now seven points clear of ther drop zone, and have two home games coming up -- against Gollingham on Saturday and Tranmere on Tuesday.
If the can start to play as well as they can at home, those relegation worries should soon be a thing of the past.

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