retired_jgirl87

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * English Second Division - Monday 31st December 2001********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Blackpool 24 9 2 2 28 16 6 3 2 19 13 50 2nd Hartlepool 24 6 3 2 30 17 8 2 3 28 15 47 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Port Vale 25 8 4 2 26 19 5 2 4 22 18 45 4th Barnsley 24 7 4 1 28 15 5 2 5 20 21 42 5th Stockport 25 9 1 2 26 14 3 5 5 18 21 42 6th Doncaster 24 5 6 1 22 16 6 3 3 19 16 42 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7th Tranmere 24 4 6 2 25 22 5 6 1 24 15 39 8th Hull 24 10 1 1 33 16 2 2 8 9 17 39 9th Bristol City 24 8 3 1 21 9 3 3 6 15 22 39 10th MK Dons 24 6 4 2 20 11 4 2 6 13 17 36 11th Sheff Wed 26 7 2 4 21 13 2 4 7 19 27 33 12th Wrexham 24 4 4 3 18 16 4 3 6 17 22 31 13th Colchester 24 7 1 5 19 13 1 6 4 9 18 31 14th Torquay 24 5 4 3 23 22 3 3 6 13 21 31 15th Bradford 24 5 3 4 11 11 2 6 4 13 17 30 16th Bournemouth 24 3 5 4 11 15 4 4 4 19 25 30 17th Chesterfield 24 2 5 5 14 18 5 3 4 13 13 29 18th Luton 25 6 3 2 20 10 1 4 9 4 17 28 19th Swindon 24 5 4 3 24 18 1 5 6 23 33 27 20th Brentford 24 2 5 5 19 21 3 1 8 17 29 21 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21st Walsall 24 2 7 3 18 19 1 5 6 11 25 21 22nd Oldham 24 3 3 6 23 26 1 3 8 18 29 18 23rd Peterborough 25 3 3 6 10 17 0 6 7 19 29 18 24th Huddersfield 24 4 3 6 16 19 0 3 8 11 26 18 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Goals============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps Gls-------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Joel Porter Hartlepool 21 19 11th Craig Reid Hartlepool 11 (1) 11 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Assists=========================================== ================================================== ===Pos Player Club Apps Asts-------------------------------------------------------------------------14th Hugh Robertson Hartlepool 23 6 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Average Rating============================================ ================================================== ==Pos Player Club Apps Av R-------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Joel Porter Hartlepool 21 8.24 2nd Craig Reid Hartlepool 11 (1) 8.17 3rd Eifion Williams Hartlepool 12 (3) 7.87 24th Gavin Strachan Hartlepool 24 7.50 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Man of Match============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps MoM-------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Joel Porter Hartlepool 21 5 14th Craig Reid Hartlepool 11 (1) 3 </pre>

retired_jgirl87

January 2002:

2002 began with a traditional New Years Day match as Brentford visited Victoria Park. It was a closely contested match which saw Hargreaves give the Bees the lead, but Brian Clough’s Hartlepool were made of stern stuff these days and Porter equalised before half-time. Humphreys fine run and shot after 75 minutes gave Pool a 2-1 win.

Brian then did his first piece of transfer business as he sold Paul Stephenson to Crystal Place for £14K. Quite why the bottom team in the Premier League wanted a 37 year old midfielder he didn’t know, but he wise enough to accept the money there and then.

The FA Cup draw had decreed that Swindon would visit Hartlepool just four days before the same two sides met in the league. In a good preview of the league match, Brian’s side won 3-1 in the FA Cup 3rd Round. Humphreys, Porter (pen) and Robson all scored before Opara got a consolation for Swindon late in the match.

After their good win in the FA Cup Hartlepool would have expected a similar result in the league match in mid-week. When Reid, Porter and Humphreys all scored in the first half they had matched their goal tally from the weekend’s match. Clarke had it out to 4-0 early in the second half before a double from Parkin gave Swindon some hope at 4-2. But then the confidence of the team really kicked in and Robson, Reid and Humphreys all scored in the final 20 minutes to bring up a comprehensive 7-2 final score-line.

Brian was absolutely chuffed by that result and he was glowing in the knowledge that his managerial skills were obviously on a par with the playing skills that he had been lauded for. With the team in such good form, now was the chance to take over the leadership of Division 2 as the next match was a trip to Blackpool to play the league leaders. Blackpool were on a fairly good run of form, but had told the Hartlepool team that they would win and he knew that they would do it for him. He selected the following team in his 2-3-3-2 formation:

Provett; Westwood, Jordan; Strachan, Tinkler, Robertson; McMaster, Humphries, Robson; Reid, Porter.

The first blow in the match was struck by Hartlepool in the 24th minute as McMaster sent over a cross from the right which Reid met on the volley. The shot was going well wide until Porter dived full length and headed it past Ilic in the Blackpool net. However at 32 minutes Provett was slow to advance from his goal-line and attempt to cut out a Flynn cross. Parker showed much more certainty and he got in front of Provett to head the equaliser. It stayed 1-1 until half-time. A second Parker header put Blackpool in front after 50 minutes, but Pool fought back and got themselves an equaliser in the 69th minute. Humphreys had been revelling in his recent move from the left of midfield to the centre and he rampaged through the middle to rifle home a fine left-footed shot to make it 2-2. Both sides went close to getting a winner as Provett denied Parker his hat-trick and then Ilic brilliantly saved from McMaster. Deep into injury-time Blackpool won a free-kick 25 yards out. Wellens hit it into the Hartlepool wall and a lucky deflection saw it land at the feet of substitute Hilton who prodded it home for a 3-2 win to Blackpool.

That loss dented Brian’s pride and he took out his anger on the squad at training. The players would learn not to spoil his big occasion in future.

The reserves and fringe players were sent out in the Vans Trophy 2nd Round, but there was no repeat of their earlier 6-3 win as they crashed 3-0 at Port Vale and went out of the competition. Cummins (2) and Armstrong were the opposition’s scorers.

The busy month continued as fellow seasiders Torquay popped in for a visit. Fowler shocked them with the opener, but Humphreys, Reid and Robson all scored to make the score 3-1 and truer to the league placings that each team held.

In the following match Hartlepool went to Oldham. It was hard-fought match that saw Vernon give the Latics the lead after 50 minutes. They looked capable of holding onto that lead until substitute Haining received his marching orders for a professional foul on Williams in the 77th minute. With 8 minutes Hartlepool had turned the match around by scoring three goals as Williams, Reid and Humphreys all found the net. A 3-1 win was a great result considering how tough most of the match had been.

The final game of January 2002 was the 4th Round of the FA Cup. Runaway Division 1 leaders Leicester were the visitors and they spurned the chance to take the lead early when Dublin saw his spot-kick saved by Provett. Porter and Humphreys then both nabbed headers to take Hartlepool to a 2-0 lead. Brian’s team looked good value for their lead, but just like in the previous match a sending off would chance the course of the game. This time the red card was for Hartlepool as skipper Tinkler was sent off for two cautionable offences in the 68th minute. Almost immediately Harper headed in a corner, then Jordan fouled Dublin who got up and scored from the spot this time for 2-2. As time ticked away Scowcroft headed in Gillespie’s free-kicked and Leicester had escaped with a 3-2 victory that they should never really have got.

Despite the loss in the FA Cup the month didn’t end on a gloomy note for Hartlepool. Brian Clough was named manager of the month and Ritchie Humphreys was named Division 2 player of the month. On the table Hartlepool were still in 2nd place behind Blackpool and starting to draw away from the teams below them.

retired_jgirl87

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * English Second Division - Thursday 31st January 2002********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Blackpool 29 10 3 2 33 20 8 4 2 27 17 61 2nd HARTLEPOOL 29 9 3 2 42 21 9 2 4 33 19 59 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Barnsley 29 9 4 1 34 16 6 4 5 23 22 53 4th Port Vale 29 9 4 2 29 19 6 3 5 24 20 52 5th Doncaster 29 7 7 1 26 18 7 3 4 22 19 52 6th Tranmere 29 7 6 2 33 25 5 7 2 24 18 49 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7th Hull 29 12 1 1 37 16 3 3 9 15 22 49 8th Bristol City 29 10 4 1 28 12 4 3 7 20 27 49 9th Stockport 29 10 3 2 30 17 3 5 6 19 23 47 10th Sheff Wed 29 9 2 4 28 15 3 4 7 21 28 42 11th MK Dons 29 6 5 3 22 15 5 4 6 17 20 42 12th Colchester 29 8 1 6 22 17 2 7 5 11 20 38 13th Chesterfield 29 2 8 5 17 21 6 4 4 18 15 36 14th Bradford 29 7 3 4 16 12 2 6 7 13 24 36 15th Wrexham 29 5 5 4 24 20 4 3 8 19 28 35 16th Torquay 29 6 5 4 27 25 3 3 8 15 28 35 17th Bournemouth 29 4 6 5 13 17 4 5 5 21 29 35 18th Luton 29 7 4 3 26 16 1 5 9 4 17 33 19th Swindon 29 5 4 5 26 25 2 5 8 29 43 30 20th Walsall 29 2 8 4 18 21 2 7 6 17 30 27 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21st Brentford 29 2 6 7 22 26 3 1 10 18 32 22 22nd Peterborough 29 3 5 6 12 19 0 7 8 20 33 21 23rd Huddersfield 29 4 3 7 17 21 0 5 10 15 33 20 24th Oldham 29 3 3 8 25 32 1 3 11 21 40 18 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Goals============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps Gls-------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Joel Porter Hartlepool 24 22 7th Craig Reid Hartlepool 16 (1) 15 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Assists=========================================== ================================================== ===Pos Player Club Apps Asts-------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Hugh Robertson Hartlepool 28 9 30th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 26 6 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Average Rating============================================ ================================================== ==Pos Player Club Apps Av R-------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Joel Porter Hartlepool 24 8.25 2nd Craig Reid Hartlepool 16 (1) 8.06 3rd Eifion Williams Hartlepool 14 (5) 7.79 12th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 26 7.65 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Man of Match============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps MoM-------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Joel Porter Hartlepool 24 6 14th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 26 4 23rd Craig Reid Hartlepool 16 (1) 3 </pre>

retired_jgirl87

February 2002:

Sometimes the manager of the month award is a poisoned chalice. After winning the award in January, Brian was to find out how true could be. A visit to bottom half side Chesterfield started the month and on-loan midfielder McMaster started off the scoring early on. McMaster made it two with a header and fellow loan signing Reid had Hartlepool 3-0 up early in the second half before Debolla pulled back two for the home team. The team wavered for 20 minutes before a late volley from McMaster completed his hat-trick and Robertson cracked in a fine free-kick for his first-ever Hartlepool goal. A 5-2 away win was the final result.

Matty Robson had made his breakthrough in December and was now a regular member of the first team. He had wonderful match as Colchester visited Victoria Park for the next match. Two of Robson’s crosses were converted by the loan-boys McMaster and Reid as Pool went two up before the break. McMaster returned the favour midway through the second half and Robson volleyed in a deserved goal as the final score ran to 3-0 for Brian’s team.

Hull were in the middle of fine run of form that had seen them move to 3rd on the table behind Blackpool and Hartlepool when Brian’s team visited them in mid-February. An 8th minute Facey goal put Hull 1-0 up and despite Pool’s best efforts they just couldn’t find an equaliser. Hull’s keeper Sergio Leite was unbeatable on the day and he denied them on countless occasions.

Huddersfield were in the relegation zone and just the sort of opponents that Hartlepool needed after their loss at Hull. Their visit to Victoria Park saw McMaster open the scoring early, but the spark was missing from Hartlepool’s play and they struggled to get a second goal. As expected Huddersfield soaked up the pressure and they broke away to equalise through Heary with 15 minutes to go. The 1-1 final score set Brian off on one of his rants again.

There was a bumper crowd at Barnsley for the final game of the month. The home side were currently in the play-off places and they had won 5-3 at Hartlepool earlier in the season, so revenge was the word for Pool that day. A see-sawing battle saw the deadlock broken by Barnsley’s Hyde after 30 minute, but Ross on a rare start for Hartlepool teed up Reid for the equaliser just a minute later. The game continued to ebb and flow, giving the crowd plenty to cheer about. The home fans had even more reason to cheer when Provett could only block McPhail’s shot and Boulding tapped in for a 2-1 lead to Barnsley after 64 minutes. Despite a late bombardment Barnsley held on to take all three points and complete the double over Hartlepool.

Two wins, a draw and two losses was not championship form as far as Brian was concerned. The team was still in 2nd place on the Division 2 table, but Blackpool had moved out to a seven point lead with 12 matches remaining.

retired_jgirl87

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * English Second Division - Thursday 28th February 2002********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Blackpool 34 13 3 2 40 22 9 4 3 30 18 73 2nd HARTLEPOOL 34 10 4 2 46 22 10 2 6 39 24 66 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Hull 34 14 2 1 41 18 5 3 9 19 22 62 4th Port Vale 34 12 4 2 37 22 6 3 7 26 24 61 5th Doncaster 34 9 7 1 30 19 8 3 6 24 24 61 6th Barnsley 34 11 5 1 38 18 6 4 7 26 28 60 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7th Tranmere 34 9 6 2 39 26 5 9 3 27 23 57 8th Bristol City 34 11 4 2 30 15 5 3 9 26 32 55 9th Stockport 34 12 3 2 37 18 3 6 8 21 29 54 10th MK Dons 34 7 5 5 27 21 6 5 6 20 22 49 11th Sheff Wed 34 10 3 4 30 16 3 5 9 25 34 47 12th Bradford 34 9 3 4 20 13 3 7 8 17 28 46 13th Torquay 34 8 6 4 36 30 4 3 9 19 31 45 14th Wrexham 34 6 5 5 27 25 6 3 9 23 31 44 15th Chesterfield 34 4 8 6 25 28 6 5 5 20 19 43 16th Colchester 34 8 2 8 24 21 2 8 6 12 24 40 17th Bournemouth 34 5 7 5 17 20 4 5 8 23 35 39 18th Luton 34 7 5 4 27 20 1 5 12 6 24 34 19th Walsall 34 2 8 6 20 26 4 8 6 21 32 34 20th Swindon 34 6 4 6 29 28 2 5 11 33 53 33 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21st Peterborough 34 5 5 7 14 20 1 8 8 22 34 31 22nd Huddersfield 34 6 4 7 21 22 0 6 11 16 35 28 23rd Brentford 34 2 7 9 25 33 3 2 11 19 37 24 24th Oldham 34 4 5 8 27 33 1 3 13 22 44 23 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Goals============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps Gls-------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Joel Porter Hartlepool 29 22 5th Craig Reid Hartlepool 21 (1) 18 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Assists=========================================== ================================================== ===Pos Player Club Apps Asts-------------------------------------------------------------------------8th Hugh Robertson Hartlepool 33 9 20th Joel Porter Hartlepool 29 8 29th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 31 7 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Average Rating============================================ ================================================== ==Pos Player Club Apps Av R-------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Craig Reid Hartlepool 21 (1) 8.09 2nd Joel Porter Hartlepool 29 8.07 8th Eifion Williams Hartlepool 14 (8) 7.64 11th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 31 7.61 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Man of Match============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps MoM-------------------------------------------------------------------------5th Joel Porter Hartlepool 29 6 10th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 31 5 29th Craig Reid Hartlepool 21 (1) 3 </pre>

retired_jgirl87

March 2002:

If Hartlepool were to push for the championship, then they needed a good run of form in March. The first game of the month was at Walsall and Pool got off to a great start when Porter headed in Robertson’s cross after 15 minutes. The lead was doubled after 43 minutes when Reid ran onto Humphreys pass to score from close range. The game was put beyond doubt in the 58th minute when McMaster got free on the right and worked his way to the bye-line before driving a low centre across the six yard box. Robson arrived perfectly at the far post to crash the ball home and make the score 3-0. That remained the final score and Brian was happy to note that Walsall failed to get one shot on target.

The quality and determination of the team was clearly demonstrated in the next match at Victoria Park against Peterborough. The visitors played a rough style of play and they had three players booked before the half hour. They then took the lead against the run of play when Platt headed home after 29 minutes. However straight from the kick-off McMaster received the ball and dribbled past Burton and Kennedy before rifling in a stunning goal from 25 yards to make it 1-1. In the 39th minute Westwood reacted to a tackle by Platt by pushing the Peterborough forward and he was sent off. Defender Nelson replaced striker Reid as Brian tried to maintain the status quo. Although Peterborough pushed hard for a winner against Hartlepool’s ten men, the team held firm. Porter worked tirelessly up front and in the 80th minute he did well to run onto McMaster’s pass before working his way into the penalty area and pulling the ball back for Humphreys to drive home the winning goal in a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

The next game was away to the MK Dons and it took only 3 minutes for Strachan to set up McMaster for the opening goal. Nelson was starting today in place of Westwood, but he lasted only 10 minutes before being sent off for a professional foul as he pulled back Gordon who was clear through on goal. Westwood came on for Reid and Porter was left on his own up front for the remaining 80 minutes. Smith quickly equalised for the Dons as Hartlepool failed to defend their lead. However another amazing fightback appeared to be on the cards when Robertson curled home a 25 yard free-kick in the 57th minute to put Pool 2-1 in front. A 69th minute header by Hornuss bought the teams level again and with 6 minutes to go a second Hornuss header put the MK Dons into the lead for the first time in the game. The Dons then held out Pool and recorded a 3-2 win.

The fourth game of the month was at home to Bradford. A quiet start was finally broken by Reid whose diving header after 33 minutes was his 20th goal of the season. Humphreys then left the field with a thigh injury as Ross replaced him. When Symes went past McMaster and Jordan before scoring with a skidding low shot after 69 minutes, Bradford had pulled it back to 1-1. It looked like an unlikely draw was going to be the result until Hartlepool struck three times in the final 9 minutes. Porter deflected in Reid’s wayward shot after 81 minutes to make it 2-1. Reid’s parried shot in the 83rd minute was pounced on by Porter who tapped it in to make it 3-1. The icing on the cake was a swerving 30 yard effort by Strachan that wrapped up the 4-1 win.

The final game of the month was away at Swindon and a Reid half-volley got the team off to a good start. A long range effort by Smith made it 1-1 and that remained the score until midway through the second half. The awarding of a penalty to Hartlepool in the 69th minute broke the deadlock. Strachan was surprisingly the furthest man forward when he attempted to meet Robson’s cross, but he was pushed as he jumped and a spot-kick was the result. Porter confidently scored from the spot to make it 2-1. Only two minutes later it was 3-1 as a powerful header by Porter gave him his 35th goal of the season in all competitions. A second goal by Smith gave Swindon a sniff of a draw as he made it 3-2 in the 78th minute, but Brian’s team closed out the game to record the win.

That was Hartlepool’s fourth win in five matches during March and they had reduced Blackpool’s lead from seven points to five with six matches remaining. Perhaps more importantly the team had now raised a nine point gap over third-placed Bristol City and automatic promotion was looking more and more like a definite possibility.

retired_jgirl87

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * English Second Division - Sunday 31st March 2002********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Blackpool 40 14 4 3 42 26 11 5 3 37 23 84 2nd HARTLEPOOL 40 12 5 2 54 26 12 2 7 47 29 79 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Bristol City 40 13 4 3 34 18 8 3 9 33 35 70 4th Doncaster 40 9 10 1 31 20 10 3 7 28 26 70 5th Tranmere 40 11 6 3 46 29 7 9 4 30 25 69 6th Port Vale 40 14 5 2 42 24 6 4 9 29 31 69 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7th Barnsley 40 13 6 1 45 22 6 5 9 29 35 68 8th Stockport 40 14 4 2 41 19 5 6 9 29 34 67 9th Hull 40 14 3 3 46 27 5 4 11 24 31 64 10th MK Dons 40 9 5 6 31 24 7 7 6 23 24 60 11th Sheff Wed 40 11 5 4 35 19 4 5 11 28 38 55 12th Bradford 40 10 5 5 25 18 4 7 9 20 32 54 13th Wrexham 40 6 7 6 33 32 7 4 10 27 35 50 14th Torquay 40 9 6 5 38 33 4 5 11 22 38 50 15th Colchester 40 9 3 9 27 24 3 9 7 13 25 48 16th Bournemouth 40 6 7 7 20 23 5 7 8 29 39 47 17th Chesterfield 40 5 8 7 28 30 6 5 9 24 27 46 18th Luton 40 8 6 5 31 25 3 5 13 10 26 44 19th Peterborough 40 7 5 8 18 24 2 9 9 26 38 41 20th Walsall 40 3 8 9 23 34 5 8 7 25 38 40 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21st Swindon 40 8 4 8 40 36 2 5 13 35 57 39 22nd Brentford 40 3 8 9 30 37 3 5 12 20 39 31 23rd Huddersfield 40 7 4 9 24 26 0 6 14 17 41 31 24th Oldham 40 5 6 9 30 35 1 6 13 26 48 30 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Goals============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps Gls-------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Joel Porter Hartlepool 35 28 5th Craig Reid Hartlepool 27 (1) 21 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Assists=========================================== ================================================== ===Pos Player Club Apps Asts-------------------------------------------------------------------------8th Hugh Robertson Hartlepool 39 10 18th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 36 9 30th Joel Porter Hartlepool 35 8 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Average Rating============================================ ================================================== ==Pos Player Club Apps Av R-------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Joel Porter Hartlepool 35 8.09 2nd Craig Reid Hartlepool 27 (1) 7.96 9th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 36 7.61 10th Eifion Williams Hartlepool 14 (9) 7.61 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Man of Match============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps MoM-------------------------------------------------------------------------5th Joel Porter Hartlepool 35 7 14th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 36 5 19th Craig Reid Hartlepool 27 (1) 4 </pre>

retired_jgirl87

April / May 2002:

The first target for Brian Clough was promotion and six more points would secure a move up to Division 1. Port Vale visited Hartlepool and were battered throughout the first 45 minutes, but they managed to keep Brian’s team at bay. Indeed they took the lead after 42 minutes on a breakaway goal by Hayes. It was hard work for Pool but top scorer Porter finished a flowing move involving Tinkler, Reid and McMaster after 61 minutes to tie the scores at 1-1. With the minutes ticking away Tinkler sent McMaster on his way and the Australian’s hopeful shot flew in from 20 yards after 84 minutes. The final result was 2-1 to Hartlepool and promotion was now only three points away.

Wrexham were safely in mid-table when they visited Victoria Park on 13th April 2002. Nerves may have played a part in Hartlepool’s poor opening to the match as they failed to perform as they had been doing recently. It took a header from Jones after 31 minutes which put Wrexham 1-0 in front before Brian’s team could snap out of their poor form. Right on the stroke of half-time McMaster produced a deft lob from the edge of the area to bring the teams level at 1-1. After the break Hartlepool came out like the promotion-chasing side that they were. Porter and Reid combined superbly for Porter to fire Pool 2-1 in front after 52 minutes. And that was soon 3-1 when Humphreys fed Porter for a cool finish through the keeper’s legs. Promotion was looking assured and only a nasty ankle injury to Reid could put a dampener on the final few minutes of the match.

Hartlepool’s 3-1 win over Wrexham confirmed promotion for the North-Eastern club. Indeed, combined with Blackpool’s second consecutive loss it meant that Hartlepool were now top of Division 2 and could seriously consider the big prize of the championship to top off the season.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st HARTLEPOOL 42 14 5 2 59 28 12 2 7 47 29 85 2nd Blackpool 42 14 4 3 42 26 11 5 5 39 28 84 </pre>

With Reid out injured for the rest of the season it was Williams who came into the team to partner Porter up front. When Hartlepool visited Luton it was a tight game which was broken by Williams who headed home from Robson’s cross after 59 minutes for a 1-0 victory in a scrappy contest.

As the push for the championship continued, the fans were treated to a cracking game at home to Sheffield Wednesday. Humphreys strode through the visitors defence after just 4 minutes to put the home side 1-0 up. That was doubled to 2-0 in the 20th minute when McMaster easily converted McCann’s low cross. A McLean header reduced the deficit in the 34th minute before a Williams shot was deflected home for 3-1 in the 38th minute. Peacóck headed Wednesday’s second after 41 minutes for a 3-2 score-line, but Porter had the final word of the first half as he headed home McMaster’s cross for 4-2 right on the whistle. The second half was just as exciting, but the goals were far less. McLean’s diving header made it 4-3 after 61 minutes. With 87 minutes gone on the clock Wednesday were awarded a penalty for Jordan’s foul on Mustoe. Heckingbottom stepped up for his 6th penalty of the season, having converted all 5 previous attempts. However it was Provett who gained some glory for himself as he dived well to his right to smother Heckingbottom’s kick and preserve a 4-3 win to Hartlepool.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st HARTLEPOOL 44 15 5 2 63 31 13 2 7 48 29 91 2nd Blackpool 44 15 4 3 43 26 11 6 5 41 30 88 </pre>

The final away match of the season was at Stockport and the much-improved Robson gave Hartlepool a 9th minute lead when he headed in Jordan’s free-kick. Porter then had a goal ruled out for offside and what looked like a perfectly legitimate penalty claim by Williams was also ignored by the referee. But Pool still controlled the match and made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute when McMaster slid in to bundle Robertson’s cross over the line. In the 55th minute Stockport got back into the game when Provett’s brilliant save from Forte could only block the ball back into the path of Griffin who tapped it home. After 66 minutes Stockport were level at 2-2 after Morrison towered above Jordan to head home. The home side were in top form now and Poll desperately battled to hold onto their point. It wasn’t to be though, as Forte finished off a flowing move in the 78th minute to give Stockport a 3-2 victory.

A Blackpool win meant that both teams were tied on 91 points, but Hartlepool lead by virtue of their superior goal-difference. To be sure of clinching the championship Brian’s team really needed to win their final match of the season.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st HARTLEPOOL 45 15 5 2 63 31 13 2 8 50 32 91 2nd Blackpool 45 16 4 3 44 26 11 6 5 41 30 91 </pre>

It was a tough final home match of the season for Hartlepool. Their opponents were third-placed Tranmere, a team who had already clinched a play-off berth. Brian selected the following team in his now well-known 2-3-3-2 formation:

Provett; Westwood, Jordan; Strachan, Tinkler, Robertson; McMaster, Humphries, Robson; Porter, Williams.

Only 2 minutes had gone when McAteer supplied Taylor with a simple finish and Tranmere lead 1-0. The equaliser was quick in coming though as Tinkler and Humphreys carved through the visitor’s defence to set up McMaster for thumping finish from 12 yards out. After 22 minutes the influential Humphreys scored himself when he volleyed home Robson’s centre. The Hartlepool faithful didn’t have long to celebrate their team’s lead as Rankine headed Tranmere level at 2-2 after 30 minutes. It then took a fabulous double save by Provett to ensure that the teams went into half-time locked at 2-2.

Meanwhile at 9th placed Hull the score was tied at 1-1 with the visitors Blackpool. As it stood now Hartlepool would be the champions.

The second half was a tighter affair as Hartlepool played with a slightly more defensive outlook. After 58 minutes Robson arrived at the far post to bundle the ball home from Porter’s cross, but his joy turned to despair when the goal was ruled out for handball.

In the 64th minute a sudden roar from the Hartlepool supporters indicated that news had come through that Blackpool were now 2-1 down at Hull.

Tranmere had obviously not read the script though and they took a 3-2 lead after 73 minutes when Rankine knocked home a loose ball after Haworth’s header had been cleared off the line. It was a desperate last 20 minutes for Hartlepool. As long as Blackpool didn’t equalise at Hull, then Hartlepool would be the champions. Both McMaster and Humphreys came close to scoring, but in the end the final home match ended in a 3-2 defeat. The loss mattered little when it was confirmed that Blackpool had lost 2-1 at Hull.

Hartlepool were the Division 2 champions in Brian Clough’s first season as a manager.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st HARTLEPOOL 46 15 5 3 65 34 13 2 8 50 32 91 2nd Blackpool 46 16 4 3 44 26 11 6 6 42 32 91 </pre>

retired_jgirl87

Season 2001/02 Division 2 Final Table:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * English Second Division - Friday 31st May 2002********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st C HARTLEPOOL 46 15 5 3 65 34 13 2 8 50 32 91 2nd P Blackpool 46 16 4 3 44 26 11 6 6 42 32 91 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Tranmere 46 14 6 3 51 29 9 10 4 37 28 85 4th P Bristol City 46 14 5 4 37 20 10 3 10 38 38 80 5th Stockport 46 17 4 2 51 24 6 6 11 37 42 79 6th Barnsley 46 15 7 1 54 25 7 5 11 33 40 78 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7th Doncaster 46 10 10 3 33 23 10 6 7 30 28 76 8th Port Vale 46 16 5 2 48 25 6 4 13 32 42 75 9th Hull 46 15 5 3 49 29 6 5 12 27 34 73 10th MK Dons 46 10 6 7 35 28 7 9 7 25 27 66 11th Bradford 46 12 6 5 29 19 5 7 11 23 38 64 12th Torquay 46 11 7 5 42 35 6 5 12 27 44 63 13th Sheff Wed 46 13 5 5 42 24 4 6 13 31 43 62 14th Wrexham 46 9 8 6 42 35 7 4 12 28 40 60 15th Chesterfield 46 8 8 7 35 33 7 6 10 27 31 59 16th Bournemouth 46 7 7 9 24 27 6 8 9 35 45 54 17th Luton 46 9 7 7 34 29 3 6 14 10 28 49 18th Colchester 46 9 3 11 28 28 3 10 10 13 30 49 19th Swindon 46 10 5 8 45 38 3 5 15 40 66 49 20th Peterborough 46 8 5 10 22 31 2 9 12 29 44 44 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21st R Brentford 46 5 9 9 37 41 4 6 13 25 45 42 22nd R Oldham 46 7 7 9 34 37 2 7 14 32 52 41 23rd R Walsall 46 3 9 11 28 44 5 8 10 26 44 41 24th R Huddersfield 46 7 6 10 28 31 1 6 16 18 44 36 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Goals============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps Gls-------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Joel Porter Hartlepool 41 32 9th Craig Reid Hartlepool 29 (1) 21 21st Jamie McMaster Hartlepool 25 16 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Assists=========================================== ================================================== ===Pos Player Club Apps Asts-------------------------------------------------------------------------12th Hugh Robertson Hartlepool 43 11 20th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 41 10 22nd Joel Porter Hartlepool 41 10 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Average Rating============================================ ================================================== ==Pos Player Club Apps Av R-------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Joel Porter Hartlepool 41 8.05 2nd Jamie McMaster Hartlepool 25 8.04 3rd Craig Reid Hartlepool 29 (1) 7.93 7th Eifion Williams Hartlepool 18 (10) 7.61 8th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 41 7.59 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Man of Match============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps MoM-------------------------------------------------------------------------4th Joel Porter Hartlepool 41 8 13th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 41 6 28th Craig Reid Hartlepool 29 (1) 4 </pre>

retired_jgirl87

Hartlepool United Player Statistics For 2001/02 Season:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * Hartlepool United - Friday 31st May 2002********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Senior Club Stats============================================= ================================================== =No Name Apps Gls Con Pens Asts Yel Red MoM Av R------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14 Barron, Michael 13 (5) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.56 19 Bass, Jonathan 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 7.00 16 Boyd, Adam 6 (7) 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 6.85 20 Brackstone, John - - - - - - - - ---- - Brown, Ryan - - - - - - - - ---- 11 Clarke, Darrell 23 (5) 5 0 0 3 0 0 0 6.86 13 Duncan, Kevin 2 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 6.00 8 Humphreys, Ritchie 47 14 0 0 12 2 0 6 7.55 17 Jordan, Andy 49 (2) 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 7.16 - May, Andy - - - - - - - - ---- 21 McCann, Ryan 12 (7) 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 6.95 25 McMaster, Jamie (loan) 27 18 0 0 7 0 0 4 8.07 5 Nelson, Michael 13 (4) 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 6.94 9 Porter, Joel 47 39 0 4 (4) 11 0 0 10 8.13 1 Provett, Jim 53 0 73 0 0 1 0 0 7.11 27 Reid, Craig (loan) 32 (1) 21 0 0 6 0 1 4 7.85 12 Robertson, Hugh 49 2 0 0 12 1 0 0 7.27 24 Robson, Matty 30 (3) 8 0 0 9 1 0 2 7.48 2 Ross, Jack 13 (3) 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 7.06 18 Strachan, Gavin 52 3 0 0 6 2 0 0 7.23 23 Sweeney, Anthony 6 (3) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 7.00 7 Tinkler, Mark 42 0 0 0 6 7 1 1 7.29 3 Van Dommele, Adam 1 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.50 6 Westwood, Chris 39 (2) 0 0 0 1 4 1 0 6.93 10 Williams, Eifion 24 (12) 14 0 2 (2) 4 0 0 4 7.56 26 Woods, Martin (loan) 18 7 0 0 6 2 0 3 7.67 </pre>