Match Report: Hartlepool United 0 Yeovil Town 2

Yeovil Town turned in a textbook away performance as they picked up their first win at Hartlepool United since 2011.

The Glovers took the lead after 14 minutes when a burst down the left from Luke McCormick picked out Aaron Jarvis in the middle to sweep home the opener.

They had to withstand intense pressure for much of the game, but sealed three points in style when the persistence of McCormick to attack down the left and curled a sumptuous strike in to the net with four minutes of second half injury time played.

There were chaotic scenes at the final whistle with an enormous melee in front of the dug out leading to both Glovers’ defender Morgan Williams and Pools’ substitute Jermaine Francis being sent off after the final whistle.

Disgracefully these fracas included a Hartlepool fan running on to the pitch and swinging a punch at Finn Cousin-Dawson who was forced to push away his attacker with no Victoria Park steward in sight!

First half

Billy Rowley made four changes to the starting XI which won 2-1 over Boston United in his first match in charge seven days earlier. Aaron Jarvis and Harvey Greenslade was restored to the forward line, Finn Cousin-Dawson returned to bring midfield stability and Michee Efete replaced the injured Josh Sims at right wing-back.

After an even opening ten minutes, the first meaningful opportunity of the game fell to the home side on 12 minutes as striker Adam Campbell laid ball off to Matt Daly whose low shot was turned aside by Jed Ward.

But three minutes later, Yeovil took the lead. Luke McCormick burst away down left side and squared the ball to Aaron JARVIS who stroked the Glovers in front with 14 minutes. You can’t help but think that a few weeks ago McCormick might have checked back and played a pass back to his defence. It appears Rowley’s promise of ‘front foot football’ (a line often parroted but rarely delivered by his predecessors) is starting to come true. 

Three minutes later Jarvis, who had been making a nuisance of himself from himself the start, was brought down on the edge of the box by Maxim Kougoun who earned himself the first booking of the game. From the resulting free-kick, Brett McGavin curled on just wide of the post.

The play which created the goal almost repeated itself on 28 minutes as McCormick got away down the left again and this time forced a good stop out of Hartlepool keeper George Evans.

At the other end a nice move involving Campbell and Daly found Alex Reid inside the six yard but he put his chance wide of the post with the offside flag up anyway. A minute later, McCormick came even closer to doubling the advantage as he beat Evans but not the post.

Hartlepool were starting to see more of the ball as the half wore on and with ten minutes remaining of the first half, Jay Benn was found in space on the right of the box and his driven ball was pushed away from danger by Ward inside a crowded penalty area. Daly flashed a good opportunity past the post on 37 minutes and moments later another driven ball from Benn was cut out by Michee Efete.

We are definitely standing firm, but the Hartlepool are turning the screw. Possession stats will be in favour of the hosts in the final 20 minutes of the first half, but other an Ward’s stop to deny Daly – which was ultimately offside – there have not been any meaningful stops for the keeper to make.

The half-time whistle was met by a roar from the away supporters who had been non-stop in their support from the opening whistle. Amazing what attacking football and solid and sensible defending can do for a fan base!

Half time: Hartlepool United 0 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

The second half started with the home side dominating possesion again. There were chances for Hartlepool with Ward having to be alert to keep out Daly’s chance before a towering header from giant Pools’ centre half Tom Parkes flying just past the post.

The pressure was all Hartlepool’s in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, but the next chance fell to Yeovil. On 63 minutes, it was another attack down the left led by James Daly who forced a stop out of Evans. 

On 65 minutes, Billy Rowley made his first substitution with Tahvon Campbell replacing Aaron Jarvis with Alex Whittle coming on for Harvey Greenslade after 73 minutes.

Hartlepool, who were unbeaten in the previous seven matches going in to the game, enjoyed much of the play but Yeovil’s hard work held them at bay. As in the first half, the home side saw most of the ball but never really seriously troubled Ward in to one of his trademark stunning stops. The 98 travelling fans in the Victoria Park away end – bravo, we were non-stop in support of the team throughout!

It was left to Luke McCORMICK to seal the win. He showed amazing persistence to not give up on a ball in the fourth minute of injury time before curling a shot around the keeper and in to the bottom corner to send the away end in to delirium. Even with four minutes of second half injury time played, the thought was to attack and get a second goal and not hold the ball in the corner. You love to see it!

As the final whistle sounded, a huge melee involving what seemed like every player and member of staff from both sides exploded in front of the dug outs. From the distance of the away end it was difficult to tell exactly what happened, but the result was sendings off for both Yeovil’s Morgan Williams and Hartlepool’s Jermaine Francis after the final whistle.

This was a black mark on an otherwise faultless away performance for Yeovil at a ground which has not made for happy hunting for many Glovers sides in years gone by. The Rowley revolution rolls on – bring on the FA Trophy next weekend!

Substitutes: Tahvon Campbell (for Aaron Jarvis, 65), Alex Whittle (for Harvey Greenslade, 73), Max Jolliffe (for Brett McGavin, 82), Dan Ellison (not used), Leo Ramirez-Espain (not used), Andrew Oluwabori (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Hartlepool United: George Evans, Jay Benn, Cameron John, Tom Parkes (for Besart Topalloj, 74), Maxim Kougoun, Adam Campbell, Nathan Sheron (for Danny Johnson, 74), Jack Hunter (for Jermaine Francis, 54), Jamie Miley, Alex Reid, Matty Daly (for Pharrell Brown, 62).

Substitutes (not used): Adam Smith, Nathan Ferguson, Joseph Aungiers.