Two goal Poole doesn't score simple goals

JAMES Poole smirked at the suggestion he doesn't score simple goals, fending the question away with the straightest of bats; yet the evidence suggests otherwise.

After making it five for the season, the Hartlepool United attacker has four quality individual efforts to his name - and even the other one wasn't a bad team effort.

His latest goals came at Chesterfield on Saturday, as Poole helped Pools end a three-game losing streak and make it a welcome return to the form which brought nine unbeaten games from the start of the season.

It could be said that this was the display Pools were supposed to give a week earlier in front of their own fans, when they took on - and under-performed against - Wycombe.

Back was the gritty determination to do the ugly things, the willingness to put blocks in and chase the opposition that little bit extra.

And, with Poole capable of turning on the style at the other end, Chesterfield suffered a fifth successive loss.

They were labelled as a relegation side by their furious manager John Sheridan.

And, while anyone inside the Victoria Park camp doesn't get carried away in any directions, the relief and joy was there for all to see.

Poole's first goal put his side in front, two minutes after Paul Murray had put them level.

A sliced clearance from the otherwise steady Jonathon Grounds, the centre-half on loan with the Spireites from Middlesbrough, landed at his feet. Poole took control, moved forward a few yards, weighed up his options, picked his spot and floated a shot of unnerving accuracy into the side of the net from around 25 yards.

His second was more of a team effort. Andy Monkhouse laid the ball off for Evan Horwood to ping an accurate ball over for Poole to send a textbook striker's header into the net.

Still it wasn't a bad one.

"My second goal was a tap in, but I'd take one going in off my backside,'' claimed Poole. "The header came from a great cross from Evan I didn't have to move, that's the quality he has got.

"The gaffer has been working hard with me, trying to utlise my pace and get in behind defences.

"I'm trying to improve on that and it worked this week.

"For the first goal there wasn't much on, I was only 20-25 yards from goal and it was worth a go. Thankfully this time it went inside the far post, I scored one similar for the reserves the other week so confidence I got from that gave me the belief to go with it again.

"I'm stronger with my left foot, but it's a strength of mine that I can use both feet.

"I've got one with my right this year at MK Dons, so I can score with both.''

Poole's other goals before Saturday all came when arriving as a substitute. This was only his third start, so it was some relief to get off the mark so soon.

In midweek he was part of the winning fourball team in Pools' annual golf day and he added: "It's important to score when I'm picked to start on not just coming off the bench.

"I started last week against Wycombe, had chances,but didn't score. I was disappointed not to do it, but you can't dwell on chances missed, especially as a striker.

"As soon as last week was over, I focused on training this week and this game.

"I was looking around and there wasn't many options on, only Andy Monkhouse, so if I hadn't scored I would have got an earful!

"I would hope to stay in the team after scoring, the boss has showed faith in me by starting last week. I will always give my all and hopefully I'm in his starting thoughts.

"Last week was disappointing, the whole team performance wasn't up to scratch or the standards we set.

"The lads knew that and we had a good week of training. Then days like Wednesday help bring the lads together and form team spirit.

"You grind them out at times and need that unity. At Stevenage we didn't do it, but did today.

"Spirit is good and that helps no end.

"The way we played here was like we did at Carlisle - a real determination not to concede and players willing to put their bodies on the line.''

Those traits came to the fore later on, as the home side tried to find a leveller. Pools, however, kept them at arm's length and there were few late flutters to worry about.

Pools went one down early on, the home side's first attack, seeing Leon Clarke sweep in from 16 yards.

But they levelled through Murray when unconvincing keeper Greg Fleming's unconvincing punch went as far as the midfielder 20 yards out and he headed into the unguarded net.

Their fragile confidence was instantly shattered by the goal and Poole made the most of it with his two.

There will be more to come from the Man City academy product - and he won't mind a tap in either.

Matchfacts

Goals: 1-0: Clarke (11, curled low shot into the bottom corner from edge of the area) 1-1: Murray (19, stooping header lifted into the net from 20 yards after keeper’s weak punch) 1-2: Poole (20, from almost 30 yards out arced a left-foot shot into the corner) 1-3: Poole (48, firm header from eight yards when he met a Horwood cross from the left) 2-3: Holden (54, turned in after a long free kick wasn’t cleared and the ball was put back in the area)
Bookings: Horwood (50, unsporting behaviour), Nish (81, kicking ball away)
Referee: Robert Madley (Ossett): Seemed to convince himself he was always in firm control, but he wasn’t really 5
Attendance: 5,937
Entertainment: ***

CHESTERFIELD (4-4-2): Fleming 3; Talbot 4, Holden 5, Grounds 6, Smith 4 (Downes 60, 5); MENDY 7, Allott 6 (Morgan 68, 5), Randall 5 (Clay 60, 4), Whittaker 6; Westcarr 5, Clarke 6. Subs (not used): Lee (gk), Bowery.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):

7 Flinders: Deal with everything which was thrown at him as plenty of long balls were pumped into the box late on;
7 Austin: Rarely ventured past the halfway line and happier at right back than right wing back
8 Collins: A typically authoritative display at the back as he repelled the home side
8 Hartley: Fiercely determined in the second half and wouldn’t let his team-mates drop their standards or concentration
5 Wright: Up against Mendy, Chesterfield’s best and quickest player and stuck to his task throughout;
6 Luscombe: Contributed on his first Football League start before being replaced
7 Murray: A week after admitting he was seeking his best form, he went some way to finding it – and scored a tidy header to go with it
7 Liddle: The midfield spark was back with his strong running and firm tackling in an energetic display
7 Horwood: Suited to advanced role, and performed with discipline and diligence in possession;
8 POOLE: His pace, workrate and a willingness to chase down defenders meant he was always a threat and a nuisance
7 Monkhouse: His most effective game as a striker, linked up well with others and was always a presence

Subs: Brown (for Luscombe 63): A tad rusty, but showed good awareness and the half hour run-out will do him good 5
Nish (for Poole 78) Humphreys (for Monkhouse 90)
Not used: Boyd, Rafferty.

MAN OF THE MATCH
JAMES Poole – two more goals make it five for the season, and four of them have been spectacular individual efforts