| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view 21:53 - Aug 7 with 1098 views | durham_exile |
When is a restaurant not a restaurant? When it hasn’t been constructed yet!
My embarrassment at sending Gerry to a non-existent restaurant (Frankie and Benny’s — other restaurants are available) at Marina Way was compounded when I realised that having changed my mobile telephone number I was unable to contact him immediately. Fortunately, the U’sual came to my aid and one message later Gerry duly arrived at the Jackson’s Wharf to where we had repaired to enjoy a pre-match drink and lunch. After profuse apologies we left the HMS Trincomalee and the Marina now bathed in warm sunshine and walked to the ground.
The weather was indeed most unlike the normal fare experienced in this Northern outpost, warm sunshine combined with a gentle breeze and the water and Marina conjured up sunnier climes and locations.
Gerry’s entrance to the stadium was delayed by the fact that the crowd for tickets mixed both home and away supporters and the office was clearly experiencing both computer and printer malfunctions. Fortunately, he arrived just in time to see Tom Eastman’s exquisite goal. More later.
Having purchased tickets in advance we entered the ground at the Smith and Graham Stand to witness a tremendous turnout of the travelling faithful. 238 all in good voice and many resplendent in the new away kit although the U’s wore their lime green clash kit (which I think is brilliant, no really).
I made contact with Mick who had spent some time in Scotland and was travelling south back to Colchester after the match. It was very good to put another face to a well-known name on the site.
The pitch was pristine, as you would expect in August and the first thing I noted was the attention paid by the Colchester players to the supporters, welcoming them to a new season and perhaps with more than a hint of expectancy. Luke Prosser the new club Captain led the applause for the fans.
The crowd of 4,055 settled down to enjoy the game.
JM had lined up thus:
Walker
Brindley Prosser Eastman Kinsella
Wright Slater Lapslie Szmodics Guthrie
Porter
Subs:
Bransgrove, Kent, Loft, Vincent-Young, Sembie-Ferris, Bonne and Johnstone
The U’s were quickly out of the traps and Sammy Szmodics could have opened the U’s account with almost the first touch of the game, sadly he missed his kick. The faithful didn’t have to wait long for the U’s opening goal and what a goal it was. Pools failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Eastman on his trusty left peg and he despatched a glorious precision shot into the far top corner of the goal. 4 minutes and life in League Two looked peachy.
And then the faithful grew quieter and quieter and the U’s seemed to think that they had done enough and allowed Hartlepool to gain some possession.
Mr Tierney the referee was doing his best to help the home side and after some Monkey business on the right wing when Drey Wright was clearly fouled, he waved play on, the ball was chipped into the penalty area and the dangerous Nathan Thomas was adjudged to have been tripped by Szmodics. The ref could barely contain himself such was the speed that he pointed to the spot.
The odious Paynter sent Big Sam the wrong way and rolled the ball into the right hand corner. He then stood in the centre of the goal staring and mouthing words to Big Sam. The Monkey Hangers had equalised in what was their one and only chance of note for the entire half.
Half time was enjoyed without recourse to the pies. My pre-match lunch of sausage and mash had sustained me. The start of the second half brought no changes and the U’s were now attacking the end where the hordes of the faithful, were encamped.
The fiery Craig Slater fired over from an acute angle but the game remained tied at 1-1.
JM made his first change on 62 minutes. The lack lustre and totally ineffectual Chris Porter was replaced by Denny Johnstone. Frankly it was criminal that Johnstone had not started the game. His contribution was immediate. He had pace, commitment and considerable skill. He chased down a ball near the corner and won the ball before forcing a corner. He was desperately unlucky not to score when winning the ball from Slater’s free kick and heading the ball down powerfully but the ball bounced over the bar.
Johnstone then won a ball near the right hand corner flag and put over a teasing cross for Szmodics to head narrowly wide.
The tiring Wright was substituted by Dion Sembie-Ferris after 70 minutes and it was he who won the ball and rolled it across to Kurtis Guthrie who fired into the side netting when a diagonal shot across the face of the goal would have been better.
Sembie-Ferris then tried to score at the near post forcing a good one handed save from Carson.
The live wire Szmodics was replaced on 87 minutes by Bonne who really should have enjoyed longer on the pitch. But to JM’s credit he made three attacking substitutions and was looking for the winner.
Mr Tierney played 2 mins and 26 seconds of the allotted 3 additional mins which somewhat summed up his afternoon. Always coming up short. I hope that we will not be seeing too much of him this season.
So a draw to start the season. One point that could be vital at the end of the season but I couldn’t help thinking that we had let two points get away.
Plenty of positives from the game.
Sam Walker’s return was most welcome. He had little to do but made the saves when called upon. No fault for the penalty.
Richard Brindley is a big favourite of mine but Mick and Gerry both pointed out that he failed to defend when the dangerous Thomas was marauding down the wing.
Luke Prosser looks a nailed on captain, authoritative and very comfortable on the ball.
Tom Eastman was assured as always and his goal was sublime.
Lewis Kinsella looks an accomplished left back and enjoyed his debut.
Craig Slater fitted into the midfield and looked very comfortable with and without the ball.
Tom Lapslie and Sammy Szmodics covered the ground and both played telling passes.
Curtis Guthrie looks, in my view, better in the centre than on the wing, and it was a shame that he fluffed his lines when the goal was gaping towards the end of the game.
Denny Johnstone although only playing 28 minutes was my MOTM. Sharp, energetic, skilful and very unlucky not to open his account. Looks to have 20 goals in him for the season.
Dion Sembie-Ferris will trouble better defences this season.
Doug Loft was perhaps unlucky not to get any match minutes but I think that says much about the quality of the squad that JM has assembled.
A decent start to the season. Brighton will be a good test to see where we are likely to figure at the end of the season. Personally I think that top seven looks almost a certainty.
Up the U’s
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| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 00:17 - Aug 8 with 1037 views | mfb_cufc |
Peter, it was a pleasure to meet you and Gerry. As you say it is good to put a face to a well-known name on the site. Arranging to meet Gerry at a venue yet to be built certainly gave us a good laugh. Just beware of the Gerry revenge.
You have given your usual expert analysis of the game, so I will give a few other observations of my own. I will start by saying has the philosophy of playing the ball out from the back been scrapped. This is only one game, but a more direct style was employed. It maybe JM is going to change the tactics depending on the opposition. It will be interesting to see if the same tactics are used in the two upcoming home games. With this more direct style of getting the ball to the front three as soon as possible, both full backs main priority is to defend. After conceding 99 goals last season, that has to be applauded. But if that is how we intend to play, we need a right-back who can defend. As he showed yesterday by continually getting caught out of position, Brindley is not that man. His strength is going forward, that is how the full-backs have been trained to play. So I would play Wynter, even though his best position is centre-back.
The next observation to make is how can Porter start in front of Johnstone. Porter certainly lived up to his boo boy image, in fact he was so ineffective, it was like playing with 10 men for 62 minutes. We all agreed Johnstone was more effective in 5 minutes, than Porter's 62. This can only be a tactical thing, where JM thinks Johnstone would be more effective against a tiring defence, than he would be starting. The only problem with that is Porter is not doing a lot to tire the defence.
Overall on the balance of play, and chances created, I thought it was a fair result. But against a team who are more likely to be nearer the bottom than the top at the end of the season, this could be seen as two points dropped. |  |
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| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 08:54 - Aug 8 with 1002 views | Leadbelly |
Interesting to see that the vile, IMHO, "clash" kit was used, despite our official away kit not actually clashing with Hartlepool's home kit. I wonder whether the same will happen at Brighton tomorrow? |  |
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| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 09:02 - Aug 8 with 999 views | AFCMorant |
| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 08:54 - Aug 8 by Leadbelly |
Interesting to see that the vile, IMHO, "clash" kit was used, despite our official away kit not actually clashing with Hartlepool's home kit. I wonder whether the same will happen at Brighton tomorrow? |
I fear it will be the luminous away kit tomorrow, I'll bring my sunglasses.
Watching the highlights hurt my eyes, possibly the worst kit ever. |  | | |
| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 11:40 - Aug 8 with 970 views | mfb_cufc |
| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 08:54 - Aug 8 by Leadbelly |
Interesting to see that the vile, IMHO, "clash" kit was used, despite our official away kit not actually clashing with Hartlepool's home kit. I wonder whether the same will happen at Brighton tomorrow? |
I heard the reason why we didn't use our official away kit was because the only goalkeepers shirt Hartlepool had was black, and it would have clashed. Sounds like a poor excuse to me. | |
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| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 13:00 - Aug 8 with 952 views | Daniel |
I wondered if not playing in black had anything to do with the weather. As bright as it is, I guess bright yellow is more comfortable that black, when the sun is shining. |  | | |
| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 13:18 - Aug 8 with 949 views | gerry_us |
| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 11:40 - Aug 8 by mfb_cufc |
I heard the reason why we didn't use our official away kit was because the only goalkeepers shirt Hartlepool had was black, and it would have clashed. Sounds like a poor excuse to me. |
I would have liked to seen day glow orange socks...
Great report as usual Pete. When will any U's manager play Macca Bonne more than five minutes a game and up the middle where he will, without fail score us goals?
Great to finally meet you MFB. Hope our sense of humour was not too much for you, we have had to develop it over many years of supporting the U's!
Have to agree with everyone's opinion of Porter. He was a waste of space on Saturday but we became a different attacking force with Johnstone replaced him, he looks a very good acquisition.
My first visit to Hartlepool and memorable on for several reasons!@#$, not the least for a rare Tom Eastman goal.
Message for 'pool staff. Get your ticketing sorted out. I was lucky and got in seconds before our goal. There were many U's supporters in the queue behind me who would have missed it. Have we lost the use of "money at the turnstile" especially for visiting fans.
Can't wait to host Durham at Grimsby / Cleethorpes
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| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 16:37 - Aug 8 with 907 views | gerry_us |
Hey Durham, great news.
U's at Grimsby on a Tuesday evening, we can spend the day on Cleethorpes beach 
The bad news...it's February 28th  | | | |
| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 22:21 - Aug 8 with 865 views | durham_exile |
| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 16:37 - Aug 8 by gerry_us |
Hey Durham, great news.
U's at Grimsby on a Tuesday evening, we can spend the day on Cleethorpes beach
The bad news...it's February 28th |
Gerry wet suits are de rigueur in Cleethorpes in February, that and plenty of goose fat.
Mind you the same is probably true in July!
I see Grimsby attracted 6,004 on Saturday.
I will be there as long as there are some decent restaurants!!!!!
Up the U's
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| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 22:40 - Aug 8 with 861 views | gerry_us |
| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 22:21 - Aug 8 by durham_exile |
Gerry wet suits are de rigueur in Cleethorpes in February, that and plenty of goose fat.
Mind you the same is probably true in July!
I see Grimsby attracted 6,004 on Saturday.
I will be there as long as there are some decent restaurants!!!!!
Up the U's
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"I will be there as long as there are some decent restaurants!!!!!" Grimsby???  | | | |
| Hartlepool 1 v U's 1 - Durham's view on 11:07 - Aug 9 with 819 views | mfb_cufc |
Gerry, your forgetting about the one that hasn't been constructed yet.  | |
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