Hull City 1 Hartlepool United 0

Last updated : 21 March 2005 By Footymad Previewer
Hartlepool manager Neale Cooper was despondent about the penalty, insisting that Ben Clark's hand had not touched the ball. But on balance, City were worth the three points and should have made it easier for themselves.

They started the game much more confidently, with Hartlepool's defence looking rather unsteady at times. In the first minutes, an excellent left-foot shot by Nick Barmby flew just wide from 20 yards out, after being played in by Craig Fagan - a combination that looked increasingly promising.
The Tigers took the lead in the 12th minute after the linesman ruled Clark to have handled in the area. Top scorer Stuart Elliott saw his weak spot-kick saved by keeper Jim Provett, but the Northern Ireland international was there to put the rebound into an empty net.

After 15 minutes, Gavin Strachan saw a free-kick easily saved by Boaz Myhill, but it was City who were passing the ball much more freely, although there had not been that many clear-cut chances in front of goal.

In the 39th minute, Provett spilled a rather tame shot from Elliott, but recovered just before Fagan could pounce. Minutes later, a rare chance for Pools saw Adam Boyd play in Joel Porter, who drilled a low shot from 12 yards that brought a good save from the feet of Myhill.

City suddenly picked up the pace in the last few minutes of the first half, with Ian Ashbee, Fagan, Ryan France and Elliott all seeing their efforts go just wide of the target.

But a one-goal cushion always looked precarious as Hartlepool began to edge slowly back into the game during the second half.

City came agonisingly close to getting the all-important second goal after more good work by Barmby on the left saw Elliott pick up the ball in a central position, and his powerful shot from 20 yards out cannoned off the crossbar.

Keeper Provett floundered, before Hartlepool somehow scrambled the ball off the line.

Elliott could have scored two more in the last ten minutes, bringing good saves from Provett.

This only seemed to fire Pools up and they put more and more pressure on City in the dying minutes, as chaos ensued in the Tigers box and Pools players line up to shoot.