Hartlepool FC v Darlington Reserves

Venue: Grayfields, Jesmond Gardens, Hartlepool TS24 8QZ
Kickoff: 14:30 Sat 9 September 2017
Weather: sunny, mainly dry, light breeze

LOCATION REPORT

SatNav: TS24 8QZ
Staff: gate guy (plus a few team coaches)
Parking: onsite carpark, 60+ spaces
Public transport: bus #3 (from town centre)

Refreshments: Tea/coffee and snacks in community centre
Toilets: in centre
Stands/Terraces: no stands, grass banks and white metal lean-on barrier all round
Floodlights: none

MATCH REPORT

Approx crowd: 60, plus three dogs

Full-time [h/t] score (colours):
1 [1] Hartlepool FC (blue/white)
3 [5] Darlington Reserves (purple)

Bookings: 4 (Hartlepool), 1 (Darlington)
Sent Off: 1 (Hartlepool)

Official Match Report

NORVENMUNKI's COMMENTS

I arrived at the Grayfields park complex and parked up. The community facilities include a kids playground, community pitches, muga and skate park. I passed through the gate pitchside, paid my £2 and found a comfortable dry patch on the grass to sit down.

Curiously, there were lots of butterfly fluttering around the clumps of freshly mowed grass, perhaps attracted by blossom along the adjoining cycle way. The crowd was sparse at first, and included a young man who was evidently filming the match for some reason.

The weather had been erratic earlier in the day, and now a slight breeze was picking up. It had stopped raining earlier, but patches of grass were still damp to sit on. The sun was breaking through and gradually everywhere was drying up.

The game kicked off. Incredibly, Darlington scored in the first few seconds!! I will have to investigate if this was a record, but it was certainly an immediate bodyblow to the home side.

The small but growing cluster of Hartlepool fans were unflappable, shouting encouragement and singing some kind of 'anthem', that soon faded into laughter. Apparently, Hartlepool call the team "FC", probably so as to distinguish it from their league neighbours, Hartlepool United.

The optimism was relatively short lived, as a second Darlo goal soon followed. A
penalty after 5 minutes, followed a bad tackle and a yellow card for the hapless FC defender.
However, undaunted on the pitch, FC were still very much in the game despite these early setbacks. Deservedly, it was a great goal that pulled it back to 1-2 after fifteen minutes. 

FC were intent on putting in a genuine shift, typified by their number #9, who was certainly very "physical" in the Shearer/Hughes mode (ie pushy and niggly).

Although it was evenly matched for spirit, it was Darlington who were running more and spreading the ball everywhere, with FC favouring a more straightforward approach using the channels or 'route 1'. In their different ways, both styles were paying dividends. 

Another FC yellow card arrived after 19 minutes, followed by a free kick to Darlington in a dangerous position, but which they wasted.
Wastefulness was contagious, as FC wasted three or four good chances to draw level, they just need more cool.

Then the decisive moment that crippled FC's resolve. A third for Darlo after 29 minutes, another penalty after a clumsy FC challenge, yet no malice and no card. Suddenly, and inexplicably, a mist of bad sportsmanship descends. The referee calls the FC captain over to tell him to calm his players. Then, before the referee can restart the game, he's called over by his assistant on the right flank, told something and then promptly gives the aforementioned hapless FC left-back a second yellow card and points the way to an early shower. FC are down to ten men. Frankly, this didn't have the hallmark of a potential rearguard response.

On 39 minutes, the visitors conceded a free kick to FC and Darlington earned their own first booking, quite possibly for dissent. A wag on the FC bench shouted to referee that he was finally being consistent! Meanwhile, the Darlo coaching assistant was very displeased and reprimanded the offending player, who was, to be fair, relatively contrite! 

This was a full bloodied affair from both sides, no quarter given. Heavy tackles and no shy passengers!
Half time arrived. Darlo were 3-1 up and FC were one man down.

As often happens, during the interval, the sun came back out and the shadows grew longer. Both teams had subs training on the pitch during break, and properly full-on training too.

Teams out, second half. As play recommenced, it was every bit as competitive as the first period but perhaps just a little less narky; the talk between the players was more supportive rather than frustrated.

After a while, the FC keeper earned a yellow card for handling outside box. He desperately claimed he was watching the ball and did so accidentally (and, as a disinterested spectator, I would probably agree), but it seemingly didn't make any difference to the referee and his name joined his teammates in the book.

The half lumbered on: more chances, both ends; another clumsy FC challenge, another FC yellow card. 

As the minutes drained away, up popped a fourth for Darlo. A nice chip from their star striker. Inevitably, on 85 mins, yet another FC yellow, yet another rough tackle. As the referee reached for his whistle to call time, Darlo added a fifth thanks to the star striker again, in final seconds. There wasn't even enough time for a restart. 

Game over. 1-5. In summary, to be honest, FC were a lot more competitive than the scoreline implies. Perhaps they can take some heart from that at least.

GBA rating: Maybe.

More information: club website