Hartlepool Utd 1 Swindon Town 1
Town fail to take their chances
Coca-Cola League One Saturday 15 September 2007 RESULT: Hartlepool Utd 1 Swindon Town 1 Hartlepool scorer: J Porter 68 Swindon scorer: J McGovern 31 A game that on paper looked like one of the toughest the team will face, Town's players will feel that they should have secured maximum points here this afternoon. Their fourth draw in six games once again the result of wasted opportunities after first building a winning position.
Town got off to a flying start and forced Hartlepool keeper Jan Budtz into an amazing double save inside the first 5 minutes. But the game was halted soon after, when Town captain Hasney Aljofree was stretchered off with a leg injury [scan result on Monday]. Promising position Paul Sturrock gave full league debuts to new signings Billy Paynter and Jon-Paul McGovern, and it was these two that combined on the half-hour mark to give Town the lead. Paynter on the left fed the ball through to McGovern, who lifted it over the keeper with a delightful chip, much to the delight of the two thousand strong Town following. Forced back Not surprisingly, however, the home side responded in the second-half, and forced themselves back into the game after a period of intense pressure. Substitute Joel Porter flashing a shot past the impressive Phil Smith after 68 minutes. A period Town weathered just after the equaliser before pushing forward again themselves. Both sides at this point searching for the winner, with Swindon looking the more likely to secure it. Wasted chances Both Christian Roberts and Sofi Zaaboub squandering fantastic chances late on. The latter when it looked easier to score with only the keeper to beat. But after Town's fourth draw of the season, it was left to manager Paul Sturrock to sum up the afternoon in just one word - 'frustrating'. The Town boss pleased with the “overall performance" but still annoyed that chances weren't taken. "We have to start putting them away," Sturrock making clear, "when you're in a position to win, you have to do just that." The League One Table: 1 Leyton Orient 6 6 16 2 Tranmere 6 5 13 -------------------------- 3 Hartlepool 6 3 10 4 Carlisle 6 2 10 5 Yeovil 6 1 10 6 Brighton 6 1 9 -------------------------- 7 Southend 6 0 9 8 Bristol Rovers 6 -1 9 9 Huddersfield 6 -2 9 10 Crewe 5 1 8 11 Swansea 5 1 7 12 Swindon 6 0 7 13 Cheltenham 5 0 7 14 Nottm Forest 5 1 6 15 Northampton 6 0 6 16 Luton 6 -1 6 17 Gillingham 6 -6 6 18 Bournemouth 6 -2 5 19 Walsall 6 -3 5 20 Port Vale 6 -4 5 ------------------------ 21 Doncaster 5 -3 4 22 Millwall 6 -5 4 23 Leeds 6 11 3 24 Oldham 5 -5 3 NEXT GAME: Bournemouth (H) Saturday 22 September 2007, 3.00pm Coca-Cola League 1 |
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