Hartlepool United 3-1 Barrow RECAP: Luke Molyneux inspires come-from-behind win for Pools over Barrow
Molyneux scored twice in 12 minutes before January signing Omar Bogle grabbed his first goal for the club to extend the lead at half-time.
Pools had trailed in the game after John Rooney scored a spectacular goal from range early in the first half.
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Hide AdThe former Stockport County man spotted Ben Killip off his line and tried his luck from all of 40 yards and was able to find the top corner as Killip watched on in despair.
It stifled what had been a bright opening from Graeme Lee’s side who started on the front-foot in a change of system.
But Pools weren’t behind long as Molyneux found time and space on the edge of the area from Joe White’s pass and was able to shift the ball onto his left foot before firing low into the bottom corner, beating Paul Farman at his near post.
And the former Sunderland striker was at it again soon after when he once again found himself in that pocket of space over on the right side of the final third.
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Hide AdThis time he skipped inside and curled from 25 yards beyond Farman into the corner in almost a carbon copy of his strike against Charlton Athletic in the EFL Trophy quarter-final.
And a resurgent Pools added to their turnaround just before the break to stun Barrow.
Molyneux was again involved as he collected a reverse pass from Jamie Sterry but looked to have missed the opportunity when driving across the edge of the area looking for an opening himself before both he and Bogle looked to have gotten in each other's way.
But the ball eventually came to Bogle who cleverly shifted the ball onto his left and rolled into the corner through the legs of the defender.
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Hide AdThe second half became about managing the game for Lee and his side and they did so pretty well.
Killip was called into action in the closing stages to deny former Pools man Luke James when diverting his effort onto the bar as Pools ended a seven game winless run on home soil.
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Hartlepool United 3-1 Barrow RECAP: Luke Molyneux scored twice as Omar Bogle grabbed his first Pools goal to seal all three points.
Key Events
- Omar Bogle scores his first goal for Hartlepool to extend the lead
- Luke Molyneux puts Hartlepool in front
- Luke Molyneux fires Hartlepool level
- John Rooney scores from range to give Barrow the lead
- Hartlepool United XI: Killip, Sterry, Byrne ©, Odusina, Ferguson, Morris, Crawford, White, Grey, Molyneux, Bogle
- Subs: Bilokapic, Liddle, Ogle, Holohan, Shelton, Fletcher, Cullen
- Barrow XI: Farman, Brown, Brough, Taylor, Glennon, Wakeling, Hutton, Amadi-Holloway, Canavan, Banks ©, Rooney
- Subs: White, Jones, Gotts, Harris, Williams, James
Our Pools writer Joe Ramage shares his half-time views:
“It’s been an entertaining half from both sides.
“Pools have definitely been more of a threat with the change in set-up. All three frontmen have been a handful for Barrow with Luke Molyneux the standout. Two excellent goals from him.
“Graeme Lee will be delighted with his side’s response to going behind. It was a wonder goal from John Rooney from all over 35-40 yards but Pools have got themselves into a commanding lead.
“Omar Bogle is off the mark and that can only be a positive. The entire squad enjoyed that one and it was a smart finish from the new recruit.
“Imperative they see this one out in the second half from here.”
IN ALL THE WAY
Luke Molyneux watches his strike go all the way into the back of the net to give Pools the lead
HALF TIME
The referee brings a thoroughly entertaining half to a close and Pools go in at the break 3-1 to the good thanks to a double from Luke Molyneux and Omar Bogle’s first goal in blue and white
45 - GOAL FOR POOLS
It’s three!!!
Pools have extended their lead and it’s a first for new signing Omar Bogle.
The chance looked to have gone as Molyneux and Bogle got in each others way but Grey did well to find Bogle who had peeled off his man and he rolls it into the far corner from around eight yards.
40 - GOAL FOR POOLS
Pools hit the front and it’s Molyneux again and if his first was almost trademark Molyneux then this was absolutely trademark.
Sterry found Molyneux in that pocket of space on the right of the area from around 25 yards and he curls in almsot a carbon copy of his goal against Charlton Athletic.
Great turnaround.