The Poolie Bunker

We started really brightly and were on top for the entire first half. Great passing and movement from the lads, it was a joy to watch. The movement! When was the last time we moved like that? Our movement was lacking last Saturday but today it was in short immense.

Our goal was coming and Moore made a great run and although he missed his first shot, he deserved to get a second chance and tucked it away.

We created more chances through great passing and movement without really getting too many shots on goal.

They almost equalised with the miss of the season but it would have been extremely harsh on us for it to be 1-1. Thornton was a dirty bastad especially in the first half.

For the second half we started the better. Brown scored when their keeper Nelson misjudged the ball and it bounced over his head! How I loved that.

Then Orient scored through a very nicely struck shot but if I’m honest Budtz should have saved it. Then they had a spell.

But Monkhouse ended that spell with a superb goal.

They then scored again…we should have cleared it but we didn’t and after a few shots one of them went in. Then another short spell from Leyton where they pressurised us for a bit.

Then Moore scored. Game over. We almost scored again after a good run from Porter put through Mackay? Who had a shot saved from point blank range.

Basically we outclassed Leyton and I am very proud of them.

One final thing...us fans we were superb. I'm suprised their wooden stand didn't collapse with all the noise we made.

Ratings.
Budtz 6 Should have saved their first.
McCunnie 9 Flawless.
Richie 7 We look more solid
Nelse 8 Solid.
Antwi 7 Athletic & strong challengers that is why he is in front of Ben
Browny 7 Worked hard, made runs but a little too clingy at times.
Boland 9 Boland's experience is something we've missed in recent games, he breaks down opposition so well. Plus the great triangles.
Liddle 8 Great triangles. Looks the business.
Monkhouse 7 I wouldn't say he was limited just not as involved but still when he still caused them a fair few problems. Great strike for his goal.
Barker 7 Worked his socks off, I hope he gets his first goal from open play- he deserves it. Put his body on the line again.
Moore 8 He worked very hard and his movement was better. His run for the first goal was brilliant. A much better peformance. Good second goal.
Sub

Clark 6 Didn't have long but did his job.
Mackay 7 Didn't have long but looked...quick.
Porter 7 It's a shame the match didn't go on for longer as he was just starting to get into his stride before the final whistle. Made a great run to set a good chance (from Mackay?) that was saved a point blank range...

Thanks

Boland + Mackay = Experience and Youth

And a great season ahead

For me a brilliant passing performance. When we stopped playing with a passing team's confidence we invited them on, but only for a couple of spells.
Budtz 6.5 Fantastic double save near the end but he owed us it after the first goal.
McCunnie 8 Rarely puts a foot wrong. Coming forward to join midfield triangles more.
Richie 8 Doesn't waste many balls. Gets about the whole pitch.
Nelse 8 Solid. Boyd snuffed out - enough said.
Antwi 8 Soared above the Orient attack with fantatsic headers.
Browny 7.5 Great to have the variety of switching wings. Keep forgetting how young he is.
Boland 9 Class on the grass. Every passing movement involves him.
Liddle 8 Close behind Boland which is high praise.
Monkhouse 7.5 Hard as nails. Must be a real handful for every opponent, tracked back well and that third goal !
Barker 7 Works hard, makes it easy for other attackers and difficult for defenders without really looking like scoring.
Moore 8 Ran and ran and ran. Took his goals well.

where do you live KT Poolie, assuming KT refers to your post code?

or is short for katie ?

I just had to ask No 6, being a KT9 man!

hey no probs but i suspect i may be right

Tremendous performance from the lads, the football we played was an absolute joy to watch. The passing game is fast, slick and very incisive, it’s way above the level you‘d expect to find from a side playing division one football. We simply passed the opposition off the park.

Budtz 6 caught out for their first, otherwise sound
McCunnie 8 complete footballer
Richie 7 the defence looks far more solid with Richie at left back
Nelse 8 you can let Boyd back out of your pocket now
Antwi 8 his best game since Doncaster
Brown 7 tremendous ability, will certainly play at a higher level, hopefully with us
Boland 8 when fit, he must play, the heart of the team
Liddle 8 back to his best, oozes class
Monkhouse 7 great goal
Barker 7 100% effort as always, punches the holes in the opposition defence
Moore 8 the difference a week makes, was it the same player????

Porter 7 great hold up play for Monkeys goal
Clark/Mackay 6 both did well in the little time they had

Stuart Nelson 0


The Orient fans that I met after the match were very complementary. One old bloke I got talking to said “you’ve got some team there son, I’ve supported the O’s for fifty years and Hartlepool are one of the best footballing sides I’ve seen down here for sometime, you played us off the park” high praise indeed.

might of been a bit different if that orient sitter had gone in just before half time.what a howler that was open goal 3 yards out and puts it wide.