HARTLEPOOL UNITED v STAMFORD

FA Cup First Round - 6 November 2016

As is often the case, the first round of the FA Cup brings us to Victoria Park at Hartlepool. Grey skies and squally showers abound but the town centre ground is well provided with cover on all four sides. From the top of the Miramax Stand the masts of the HMS Trimcomalee, in dock at the Historic Quay, peep over the opposite stand roof to give an unusual but characteristic prospect.

Hartlepool United are not having a great season in League Two and are without a home win so far, which will give some hope to their Northern Premier League Division One South opponents Stamford. The visitors have brought a good following to see their first ever appearance in the first round, and Hartlepool in an attempt to get their disappointed fans to turn up have reduced prices, so £10 gets me an OAP seat and £2.50 a decent programme.

At kick off a stiff breeze favours the red shirts of Stamford so Hartlepool in blue and white stripes may have to work the ball forward. They do seem keen on working the ball and keeping possession, but going forward is more of a problem against a well packed defence. It takes fifteen minutes for them to register an attempt on goal when a shot from Michael Woods is blocked.  A few minutes later Woods finds Jordan Richards in the box, and his shot at least gets through to keeper Sam Donkin who saves well. The next shot on goal is from Nicky Deverdics but it is deflected and loops up onto the crossbar; the rebound comes to Padraig Amond who swings a boot, misses, swings again and connects, only to bring another save from Donkin.

The keeper is having a good game and is in action again to dive at Amond's feet to smother a half chance, then he saves a close range toe-poke from Josh Laurent and is also vigilantly on hand to pick up when Lewis Alessandra’s run through is spoilt by a heavy first touch.

Keeping the score blank has been Stamford’s priority for thirty five minutes, but suddenly they start to engage the Hartlepool defence. A break gives Kern Miller a shooting opportunity from the edge of the box that he drags wide. Then Jevani Brown nicely sets up an unidentified teammate whose shot is deflected for a corner, and though the ball is cleared, it is returned with interest via a Brown shot over the bar. From another corner Delroy Gordon wins a clean header that comes close enough to discomfort the home fans.

Those fans greet the half time whistle with boos and catcalls, the last few minutes of Stamford pressure fresher in their minds than the opening half hour of dominance.

An early second half corner for Stamford is caught by keeper Trevor Carson and speedily bowled out to the half way line, the counter attack resulting in a corner. This tests Donkin under his crossbar and, flailing a bit, he needs assistance to get the ball safely back out of play. He deals better with the repeat corner, holding on well under pressure.

With the breeze now behind them Hartlepool establish base camp well inside the Stamford half and the pressure leads to Stamford conceding a rash of free kicks. One from the left wing is well defended but the next is more central, and though thirty yards out is wind assisted and so spells danger. Richards beats the wall but his shot is too central and Donkin catches safely. Five minutes later another free kick is awarded almost from the same spot. This time Deverdics claims dibs on the ball and his shot is cleanly over the wall and into the unguarded side of the goal. The home fans greet the sixty-fifth minute goal with more relief than joy. The question now is do Stamford have a plan B.

Having put on two substitutes just before the goal, manager Graham Drury sends on his third. A brief flurry in attack brings a free kick on the edge of the box that Jake Duffy (who has caught the eye in Stamford’s midfield) gets on target to give Carson his first save of the day.

Otherwise Hartlepool cope well with the Stamford response. Finding a bit more space up front, Richards is able to volley the ball hard and low into the Stamford penalty area where defender Lee Beeson sticks out a leg and deflects the ball past his helpless keeper for an unfortunate own goal.

Two down with less than ten minutes to go the Stamford players wilt for the first time. Hartlepool now have time on the ball as well as space and set up a nice move, the ball going right and left before being returned to the centre where club captain (on as a late substitute) rounds the move and the game off with a firm header (half diving, half falling) into the net.

The two late goals have put a flattering sheen on the score, not in terms of possession and territory but in terms of penetration and goal threat. The home fans in the crowd of 2,461 will not care too much – they are through; and the 505 away fans (sportingly acknowledged by the PA and the locals) will not be too disappointed with a good day out and a game they remained in until the final ten minutes.