Pools PROMOTED!!!!
14 April 2007
Wycombe Wanderers 0 Hartlepool 1
Hartlepool sealed their promotion to League One with a win at Wycombe, Richie Barker's 21st league goal of the season sealing promotion and putting Pools another step nearer to winning the League. Wycombe now look like missing out on the play-offs after stretching their winless run to eight games.
Hartlepool were just too good for Wycombe in the first half taking charge of the game easily but it was Wycombe who created the first real chance after 15 minutes. Tommy Doherty played to Tommy Mooney who squared for Scott McGleish, but the oncoming keeper forced him wide and the ball out of play.; but it was a scare for Pools.
The visitors hit back well and had the best chance of the half some five minutes later. A long throw fell nicely to Andy Monkhouse whose improvised volley hit the post. Hartlepool continued to dominate but did not create many chances for the rest of the half although their football was good.
Wycombe manager Paul Lambert must have had some strong words with his players in the break as they stormed out in the second-half creating some good chances. First Jermaine Easter went one-on-one with keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos but the striker panicked and prodded his shot wide, then Easter was provided with another great chance after some good passing moves he was put through again but this time he shot straight at Konstantopoulos.
Seconds later Hartlepool went down the other end of the pitch and had a glorious chance. A blocked shot fell kindly to Gary Liddle but his shot was well saved by Ricardo Jorge Batista.
The visitors then had two great chances to win the game. Substitute Joel Porter wasted the first, firing straight at Batista. Then another substitute David Foley was well denied by the keeper when he followed up a good save following an effort from Liddle.
Hartlepool finally scored the goal which sealed their promotion. With 10 minutes left, top-scorer Barker headed home from five yards after a precise cross from Monkhouse.
» top | more articles | 
| 
| shown 87 times
