FA Cup 1st Round

HARTLEPOOL UNITED v EAST THURROCK UNITED - 8 November 2014

First round day sees Hartlepool United enter the competition with a non-too threatening visit from East Thurrock United of the Ryman League Premier Division, although with the home team bottom of the Football League an upset should not be ruled out.

The day before remembrance Sunday means two minutes silence, observed by all except the seagulls, and a commemorative shirt sported by Hartlepool encompassing a poppy on a single blue vertical stripe of their white shirts; no such frippery for East Thurrock who are in gold shirts and black shorts.

The morning’s heavy rain has relented by kick off and with the home side a bit tentative it is the visitors who have the first shot on target. This concentrates Hartlepool minds and they respond with a good shot from Jonathan Franks that is well tipped over the bar by East Thurrock keeper Hughes. Further Hartlepool pressure yields little result but, following a rare attacking spell from East Thurrock, a quick Hartlepool break sees Franks make ground and fire a 30 yard shot low into the corner of the goal.

A 1-0 lead after 30 minutes is not too convincing, and home keeper Flinders makes a meal of shuffling a shot round the post, and then flaps inconsequentially at the corner to give the visitors hope. In contrast, at the other end, Hughes collects corners and crosses for fun and makes a double save from the lumbering Marlon Harewood, first parrying a powerful shot then stopping a close range header as the ball is returned into the six yard box.

Hughes continues to impress in the second half with another double save on 60 minutes and later somehow denies Franks one on one. The few visiting fans start the chant “England’s number one”, and it is generously taken up by the home fans who are enjoying the display.

But with eight minutes left Harewood gets free on the right and his cross is uncharacteristically mishandled by Hughes, dropping for Franks to nod over the line and give the fans the comfort of a two goal lead.

The error does not prevent Hughes being named Man of the Match, or him being cheered off at the end by the Hartlepool crowd just pleased with a win and the progress to round two.

ELSEWHERE

With the local non-league teams all out, and Middlesbrough not due in until Round 3, it is worth noting two good wins in the wider region: Gateshead 4-0 at Norton United (Shildon’s conquerors), and Blyth Spartans 4-1 at home to Atrincham.

The only set back was York City drawing 1-1 at home to AFC Wimbledon (and subsequently losing the replay).

FA Cup state of play after the Fourth Qualifying Round: 1 yet to start, 1 through and 11 out.