Pool still on course for promotion after draw

Who didn't walk out of Victoria Park on Saturday feeling a little down after seeing Cheltenham nab a late equaliser?

But who hadn't already written off Pool's play-off hopes on plenty of occasions this season? And who would not give Pool a chance in a one-off game against any team in the Third Division?

And that's why Pool go to Whaddon Road tomorrow night with everything to gain.

This time, unlike the last two years, Pool go into the second leg still in with a shout - and more than a shout at that.

Blackpool last year and Darlington two seasons ago both had comfortable two-goal leads after the first game.

Cheltenham stifled Pool on Saturday; tomorrow night they will have to open up a lot more and that will leave the gaps that Pool - a team quick to punish opponents on the counter attack - will relish.

Yes, Pool lost 3-0 at Whaddon Road two months back, a scoreline that more than flattered the home team because for 40 minutes Pool played Cheltenham off the pitch and two soft goals in a minute before half-time changed the complexion of the game.

And it's that sort of form and confidence Turner will be instilling into his charges today and tomorrow.

"The game went how I thought it would,'' admitted Turner. "We have seen two very good sides from this division. The disappointing factor is how we have conceded a late goal.

"But as much as we were on top in the first-half, they had the upper hand in the second-half. We are still in the game - the last two years have been all over for us by half-time. I know we will get chances down there and we can take them and defend well when we need to.

"Everyone will think Cheltenham are favourites now they are at home, but we can surprise a few people and we wouldn't be the first team to go out and win a game away from home.

"A lot of people at the game on Saturday might have been surprised by the standard of Third Division football.

"They were a well organised team. We are ready for second division football and if we don't make it this year, then we can next - I am certain of that.

"We have done a lot here in the last three years and hopefully we are going to make it this year.

"We are a footballing team and this season has been an improvement on the last because of the quality players we have brought in. People who haven't been to Hartlepool for a number of years will have noticed a great difference.

"The nightmare situation for me is that me and Steve Cotterill get on very well together.

"I was desperate for them to go up automatically because I like him and because I knew we were in for a tough game against them.

"I didn't know him before I became a manager, but when you are a manager in the Third Division everyone forgets about you and you have to stick together!'' And Cotterill, when he wasn't being drawn into a cocky and petty disagreement with the Press, repaid Turner's compliment: "The game was played in the right manner, as it always is between Cheltenham and Hartlepool.

"I don't know wether that's because of the friendship between myself and Chris. We don't go around banging doors, saying 'come on, let's go and beat this lot'. I have respect for Chris and we get on fantastically. I'm sure if it goes well for us, he will be the first to congratulate me and likewise if they do it.

"We have a great relationship and I'm sure he's not saying anything stupid about Tuesday and I won't be either.'' In five play-off games, Pool have yet to triumph - or even find the sort of form which has made them one of Division Three's best teams for the last three seasons.

Look at how Pool have impressed at home this season. There's been plenty of goals, plenty of chances and plenty of excitement.

But there was a strange, somewhat subdued atmosphere at Victoria Park and that appeared to affect the players.

With Pool enjoying their biggest home gate since the visit of Tottenham and Gazza in 1990- tickets were available on the day but hundreds of fans were turned away from the turnstiles as the home areas filled up (shame the visitors couldn't sell more than a paltry 500 for the biggest League game in their history) - when an early goal failed to materialise the tension mounted.

Gordon Watson has been outstanding all season but on Saturday he had his least affective game for Pool. It took him all of two minutes to ruffle and wind-up defender Richard Walker and for the next 30 minutes the centre-half was awful.

Watson, however, never made the most of his opponent's failings and, yes it's a rarity, but, a second minute glancing header apart, he never looked like scoring. It was a nervous start to the game, Pool failing to play the fluid football so often seen at Victoria Park this season and the visitors looked like a team without a win in six games.

Cheltenham's distribution was woeful, regularly spraying the ball into the stands and beyond.

When Martyn Lee fired a 20-yard free-kick onto the Rink End roof he followed in the footsteps of Geoff Thomas who managed a similar feat when Pool beat Crystal Palace in 1992.

With just one man up front, the visitors were content to stall the game whenever they could.

Julian Alsop is one of the division's more physical players, but not the most mobile, so when he was up front on his own Pool opted to try to play across the back line and build attacks from defence.

But faced with a wall of orange, seven, eight or even nine players regularly dropping back to defend, Pool found it tough to break down.

The breakthrough came in first-half injury time. Pool stretched the Cheltenham midfield, found Micky Barron pushing on from right back and his cross was met by Eifion Williams who nodded his fifth Pool goal in six starts.

It was hoped that the goal would see Pool pushing on for more. Even if Cheltenham decided to throw off the shackles and try to equalise, things could have opened up a bit more.

Instead it was more of the same - frusration and near chances. There was a let-off for Pool when Mike Duff's header was cleared off the line and Jamie Victory blasted the rebound against the bar and Anthony Williams later had to be alert to claw a Grayson header out of the top corner.

In between, Eifion Williams could have scored his second after a quick breakaway and Adam Boyd's shot was goalbound until Victory defelcted wide.

But with time running out, Westwood lost possession and the ball was played to Grayson who thumped the ball past Anthony Williams. "It was the classic defenders' mistake,'' reflected Turner. "When you wanted the ball to be booted anywhere else in the ground, the ball broke kindly for Grayson and it's all about taking chances.''

Until then, Westwood and partner Graeme Lee were immaculate. Lee had his hands full with Alsop and was constantly assisted by Westwood's ability to nip in front of Alsop and nick the ball away.

Cheltenham's fans - and some players to a certain extent - celebrated as if the tie was won.

Let's hope some of them think tomorrow's game is a formality, because 11 players in yellow shirts might have something to say about that.

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