|
Blues chances of victory on Saturday are fairly good if you go by the Shrimpers record in Hartlepool. Of their previous fifteen visits Blues have come home with maximum points on six occasions and gained draws on a further three occasions. Blues first ever visit to Hartlepool (or Hartlepools as they were known in those days) came on Friday 6th January 1967 where Blues recorded a 2-1 victory which moved them up to 6th place in the Fourth Division table. Blues also gained victory at the Victoria Ground the following season when a solitary goal John Baber goal gave Blues both points. Blues first defeat at the Victoria Ground came in the 1969/70 season when the home side recorded a 2-1 win. However, Blues would make it three wins out of four in the 1970/71 season when Micky Beesley's goal was enough to ensure victory. An early meeting in August 1971, which would be a Blues promotion season, would see the spoils shared in a 2-2 draw. With Blues moving up into Division Three it would be another five seasons (1976/77) before Blues would make the long trip north again. This time an Alan Moody penalty gave Blues a point in a 1-1 draw. The following season Blues lost for just the second time at the Victoria Ground going down 1-0. Despite the defeat at Hartlepool Blues gained promotion that season and next met the Monkey Hangers in season 1980/81 where a brace from Derek Spence and one from Terry Gray gave Blues a 3-1 win as Blues stormed to the Fourth Division championship. Once again Blues were on the up and it wasn't until they came back down to Division Four in season 1984/85 that the two sides met again. This time Steve Phillips gave Blues a half-time lead but Hartlepool came back in the second-half on what was a wet and windy Wednesday evening to win 2-1. Blues went down to Hartlepool again the following season as they lost by the odd goal in five. Danny O'Shea had given Blues the lead but Hartlepool eventually came out on top winning 3-2 with Blues second coming from Steve Hatter. A 1-0 defeat followed in 1986/87 but when the two sides met again in 1989/90 a Martin Ling strike gave Blues a point in a 1-1 draw. Wit Blues basking in the higher echelons of Division One the two sides next met in season 1998/99 when Blues recorded their highest victory in Hartlepool winning 4-2. Goals from Scott Houghton, Rob Newman, Trevor Fitzpatrick and Barry Conlon gave the Blues fans that travelled that day a nice early Christmas present. Season 1999/2000 saw Blues travelling to the North East for a 12 o'clock kick off, because England were playing Luxembourg in the afternoon. Hartlepool took the lead just after half-time but a Simon Coleman header and a Neil Tolson penalty made the early morning trip worth it for the Blues faithful. Last season it was another penalty that won the match but this time it was Pool's Tommy Miller who converted to give the home side maximum points.
Ian Kemp
www.thelittlegazette.com
Ian Kemp
www.thelittlegazette.com