By Albatross
November 18 2005

It was a snowy night in the Potteries, but it was the Hartlepool fans that were singing "Jingle Bells" - an incredible result as Pools took advantage of 10 man Port Vale to record a 5-2 victory. Cold? Who cares! Neale Cooper made just one change to the team that lost to Bristol City on Saturday; Paul Robinson was preferred to Joel Porter up front. Tinkler had recovered from his hamstring problem, and took his position in midfield as Port Vale kicked off towards the sparse travelling support on a bitterly cold night.

It didn't take Vale long to show Pools how dangerous they could be; within the first two minutes they won a corner on the right that Lipa headed against the bar, and they quickly won another couple of corners, the first of which was headed behind and the second punched away by Provett. Already things were looking a little ominous for Pools - little did we know what was to come.

Humphreys played a hospital ball to Robson on 4 minutes, playing the young defender into trouble; McPhee intercepted and broke away, running powerfully towards goal before sending his 20 yard shot just wide of the far post.

Against the run of play, Pools took the lead on 6 minutes. Collins slipped, allowing the lurking CHRIS SHUKER to collect the ball and head for goal; he slid the ball past the despairing Brain who was charging forward to try and narrow his angle to score his first goal for the club.

The lead didn't last very long though. A throw in on the Vale left wasn't cleared properly, and the ball broke to BROOKER on the right of the box; from just outside the area he executed a superb volleyed chip that gave Provett no chance.

Port Vale were looking dangerous going forward, the partnership of McPhee and Brooker causing plenty of trouble, but Pools were starting to get into the play more with some decent play - especially down the right, giving Humphreys a chance to put a long throw into the box. Humphreys did have the opportunity for a shot on goal shortly after this, but although his shot was struck powerfully it didn't trouble Brain. There was a let off at the other end when a good move from Vale down the left saw the ball come across for Bridge-Wilkinson - but he sent his shot wide of the near post when he really should have done better.

Pools were looking to the right hand side for inspiration, and showed some good possession football in the Port Vale half without really creating much. We did win a corner, and when it was cleared Pools were almost caught out - Matty Robson having to make a great saving tackle on McPhee to get the ball safely back to Provett.

The moment that really changed the game came on 22 minutes. Robinson did well to get in a block tackle on Collins, and then headed for goal. He kept going towards the penalty area, but before he got there Collins hauled him down; as the last man there was really no option for the Ref except to show him a straight red, and sure enough that's what he got. Strachan put the resulting free kick just over the bar.

With the opposition down to ten men, Pools proceeded to use the man advantage to great effect. Horton decided to leave two up front, and Pools made the extra man in midfield count as they continually probed and switched the point of attack to keep the Vale midfield on the run. Vale were still looking dangerous on the break, but Pools were getting most of the possession and were patient enough to build from the back and keep the ball moving to try and pull players out of position.

This almost payed off on 28 minutes, when some good patient play gave Shuker a chance to get down the flank; he passed inside and was fouled by Brisco, who was spoken to but not booked. For some reason being kicked up in the air made Shuker something of a target for the Vale fans, and whenever he touched the ball after that there was a chorus of boos.... The resulting free kick from the touchline was cleared.

The second Pools goal wasn't long in coming though. Some good play in the Vale half saw the ball worked across from Shuker to Robinson to Humphreys, whose cross was put behind for a corner. The corner from Strachan wasn't cleared, and the ball fell to HUMPHREYS who controlled and then drove home to put Pools back in the lead. Humph seemed well chuffed, you felt he'd proved a point!

Vale were soon back on the attack, winning a corner after Westwood headed a left wing cross behind; Pools didn't clear their lines effectively, and Vale worked the ball back to Bridge-Wilkinson, Provett making a good save from his low shot.

Pools began to put the pressure on, but were struggling to carve out clear opportunities, and a couple of corners showed that Vale had far from given up on the match; some neat skill from Brooker on 39 minutes set them away again. He chipped the ball over a Pools player and collected it on the other side before heading down the right flank; his cross though was too far and the ball went out for a goal kick.

Pools won a corner on 41 minutes that Strachan swung across from the right; Vale didn't get the first clearence in properly and there were a few seconds of chaos before the ball was finally cleared. Robinson was then spoken to after he was adjudged to have fouled Lipa; it didn't look an especially bad challenge, but the Ref spent a bit of time in conversation with the Pools forward.

Pools were growing in confidence, and after collecting the ball in defence on the left they showed good vision to pass the ball about and then send Humphreys clear down the flank; his cross though was too long for Shuker to get on the end of. Shuker was again heading towards goal when the whistle went for Half Time, and the 80 or so Poolies headed for the comparative warmth of the enclosed concourse under the stand!

Snow started during half time, light at first, but Vale had obviously been given a half-time roasting by Brian Horton and came out looking to take the game to Pools. However the Pools defence stood firm, and Vale seemed to be running out of ideas a little as Pools gradually got a hold of the ball and continued to probe for openings. Robinson sent Shuker away down the flank on 53 minutes with a cheeky back heel, Shuker played the ball back to him, but Robinson's cross was too far.

Vale then had to take Lipa off through injury, Rowland coming on. Lipa had dropped into defence following the sending off, and this further rearrangement seemed to weaken Vale still further as Pools started to take control more and more, limiting Vale to the occasional break. Brooker and McPhee were still looking dangerous on occasion, but they were increasingly starved of the ball as Pools piled on the pressure without really creating a clear chance.

Pools almost did create something on 58 minutes, and again Shuker was at the heart of it; he did well in the corner to get the ball across to Robinson, who sent his shot well wide. Vale tried to attack quickly, and with Pools struggling to get back into position looked to have a good chance; however, Pools did eventually get the ball clear towards the centre circle, where Eifion superbly volleyed the ball out wide for Robinson to head upfield - but without creating a clear chance once more.

The snow was getting worse, and by the half way point in the second half it was getting pretty heavy. Pools were coping best - maybe because their red shirts were more visible than Vale's white ones - and continued to attack. A corner from Strachan was cleared, and then Coops decided to bring on Porter for Robinson. Robinson had looked OK, but had rarely threatened the goal.

Almost straight away Pools extended their lead. Another corner on the Pools left was taken by Strachan, and his delivery was perfect for NELSON to head home from close range.

Corners were causing Vale plenty of problems, and Pools won another a couple of minutes later; a slip by a Vale defender sent Shuker away again, and he sent in a good cross that Rowland put behind for a corner - almost scoring an own goal in the process! The low corner was played back to Barron who saw his shot defelcted away for another corner that was headed goalwards and saved - the Ref blew his whistle though for pushing. Vale moved forward quickly to attack, but shot wide.

Mark Boyd was next to chance his arm for Vale with a long shot, but it was well wide when he hit it and it curved even further away from the goal to go out of play nearer to the edge of the box than the post!

Pools effectively finished the game as a contest on 73 minutes, once more with a goal from a corner. Strachan's kick was flicked on at the near post and EIFION WILLIAMS was on hand to volley home emphatically at the back stick.

With the snow increasing in intensity, Pools brought on Clarke for Shuker on 77 minutes. It was now so hard that it was starting to lay on the pitch, and it was a good job that we were already playing with a yellow ball - a conventional white one would have been impossible to see.

Pools were continuing to attack, but not with any particular hurry - but with Clarke anxious to get involved it proved the spark we needed to turn this into a thumping. Some good work from Humphreys on the left saw him send over a teasing low cross that CLARKE slid home at the far post - sliding so far in fact that he ended up in the back of the net and got his boot caught in it - not that he seemed to mind!

Pools replaced Eifion with Istead, and simply looked to play out time. The fifth goal had been enough for more of the steadily decreasing number of home fans, and they were filing for the exits - though not many of the few Poolies were leaving! The snow had slackened off, but there was enough on the pitch that it was difficult to see the lines, and the ball was kicking up white stuff wherever it went.

The few remaining Vale fans from the initial 4800 crowd did get to see a consolation goal on 87 minutes; following a Humphreys foul, Vale played a free kick into the box for CUMMINS to head home. For the second time the tannoy cranked into life with "Glad all over", this time some of the Poolies joining in the celebrations with a bit of dancing. We'd already had to accompany our goals with Tom Hark ourselves, and especially during the second half had done our best to get some atmosphere going - including a full rendition of "Two Little Boys".

Pools were starting to come forward a little more now, a good cross from Humphreys resulting in a corner, but it was to Steven Istead who had the last chance for Pools. He used his pace to get onto the ball on the right, moved inside, and sent a great shot just wide of the far post. Pools continued to hold onto the ball throughout injury time, and then it was time to celebrate victory with the players, and then head back, cold but happy, to clear the snow off the car.

To say that I didn't expect this result is an understatement. Vale had been in good form, and the opening few minutes seemed to indicate they were in the mood to continue it - our goal was against the run of play, their equaliser was a quality strike, and they'd already hit the woodwork. Pools though stuck to their task, and when Collins was dismissed (and there was no real protest about the decision) took full advantage. It changed the game - but with Vale still looking to take something from the game Pools were able to get them on the run with some patient possession football, and some good deliveries at corners that consistently caused Vale problems. Shuker once again looked outstanding, Humphreys had one of his best games of the season - hopefully a sign of things to come - and we coped very well with difficult conditions. Credit to the team then, to the Pools supporters that made the game, and also a quick word about the Vale fans - one of them made a point of approaching me as I headed to the car to say how well he thought we'd played. Back up to 8th place then, and still in the thick of the playoff battle; five goals away from home; it's still a great time to be a Poolie.