Roddy Collins gave debuts to striker Jamie Burt and centre half Phil Gulliver with Adam Rundle, the 18-year-old midfielder signed from Darlington this week for £40,000, on the bench. Mark Summerbell started his last game before commencing a two-game ban for reaching 10 yellow cards and getting sent off against Scunthorpe. Darren Kelly dropped out with a bruised foot. Despite heavy overnight rain the game was on without worries as the pitch had been covered. Hartlepool's Marcus Richardson put a header over the bar in the sixth minute. Richardson then set up Eifion Williams who miscued totally in front of goal. Immediately United broke upfield and Burt got free, advanced menacingly into space and crashed the ball into the far corner of the net from the edge of the box. There was a suspicion of offside against Craig Farrell but play was allowed to continue as Farrell was deemed not to be interfering with play. The celebrations saw debut boy Burt rip off his shirt and gesticulate in front of the home supporters. Richardson then forced a good save out of Glennon and Shelley was forced to concede a corner. Hartlepool continued to pile on the pressure and Richie Humphreys somehow managed to avoid finding anyone with a cross that flashed across goal. Eifion Williams then broke away with pace after a flick by Richardson and brought a top save out of Glennon who pushed the ball away for a corner. Within seconds Williams turned cleverly and shot across goal again. Home skipper Micky Barron came off after 31 minutes to be replaced by former United loanee Jon Bass. Lee Maddison looked a bit unlucky to be booked for a mistimed challenge on 34 minutes. Burt could have stunned Pool when he latched on to a defensive slip-up by Graeme Lee and fired a left footed shot against the outside of a post. On the stroke of half-time Burt put in a good cross and Farrell missed a sitter from a few yards out, the ball missing his forehead altogether. A mistake by Murphy at the start of the second period almost gifted a goal to Williams but he fired wide. Then Richardson forced a save out of Glennon and put a header wide. Maddison went down injured and Dessie Byrne came on to replace him. Hartlepool's pressure paid off when a corner was floated in, not cleared and defender Lee fastened on to the chance and levelled the match. Roddy Collins' reaction was to bring on Rundle as a substitute for McGill. Lee was still a threat as he headed wide from another corner on 57 minutes. Mark Hudson led a rare foray upfield and brought a comfortable save out of Anthony Williams. Williams was upended inside the box by Gulliver shortly after this but referee Graham Laws waved away appeals. Murphy cleared off the line as Carlisle conceded another corner and Lee headed inches wide. Burt again showed a clean pair of heels when he broke away on 66 minutes and brought a fine save out of Williams with a fierce left-footed shot. Yet another home corner was met by the dangerous Lee who headed marginally over. Tommy Widdrington worked an opening and hit a shot on target that Glennon claimed. Jermaine Easter replaced Richardson. Darrell Clarke's shot was blocked by Shelley inside his six yard box. Easter forced a corner from which Glennon again made a great save. Carlisle couldn't hold out forever though and a mistake by Byrne led eventually to their second goal on 81 minutes, Williams having time to pick his spot and give Hartlepool a 2-1 lead. In injury time Glennon saved United again when he denied Easter after a good run by Bass. Al's verdict: At the risk of repeating myself, it's happened again. A great start with debutant Burt scoring a brilliant goal but our defence never looked capable of holding out against a home side who showed why they are top with hard work and good consistent pressure. All credit to Burt for his goal although he'll rue his two later misses, as will Farrell. A second goal might not have killed the game off but would have given us the breathing space we clearly needed. Another good performance from Glennon but he can't win us games on his own and Byrne's careless pass proved the crucial mistake. After this result, it's pretty much essential that we win the next two home games. |
