Hartlepool United v Stevenage RECAP: How things played out as Graeme Lee's side take a point at the Suit Direct Stadium
Pools fell behind midway through the second half when Gary Liddle was penalised for a foul on substitute Jamie Reid with referee Martin Coy showing no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Norris stepped up and converted well sending Ben Killip the wrong way.
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Hide AdTo Pools’ credit they fought back in a game where they might have let things slip with very little in the way of clear cut chances up to that point.
And it was captain Featherstone who grabbed the equaliser as he fired in superbly from the edge of the area at the first time of asking from Joe Grey’s set up.
Graeme Lee’s side pressed for a winner in the closing 10 minutes but were unable to find a way though a resolute Stevenage defence.
And here is how the full 90 minutes played out at the Suit Direct Stadium.
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Hartlepool United 1-1 Stevenage LIVE: Nicky Featherstone rescues a point for Hartlepool
Key Events
- Featherstone draws Hartlepool level with a well-taken goal
- Norris scores from the spot to give Stevenage the lead.
- Hartlepool United XI: Killip, Ogle, Byrne, Liddle, Odusina, Ferguson, Featherstone ©, Shelton, Holohan, Molyneux, Cullen
- Subs: Boyes, Hull, Hendrie, Crawford, Smith, Grey, Olomola
- Stevenage XI: Pym, James-Wildin. Coker, Reeves, Cuthbert ©, Prosser, Taylor, Norris, Westbrooke, Lines, Vancooten
- Subs: Carter, Andrade, Upson, Daly, O’Neill, Reid, Walker
Warm-ups done
The two teams head down the tunnel after completing their warm-ups. It’s almost showtime at the Suit Direct Stadium,
Reaction
Hartlepool Mail’s Joe Ramage has given his views on Graeme Lee’s starting XI:
“I’m not surprised by the two changes if I’m being honest. Graeme Lee alluded to new signing Marcus Carver being a doubt yesterday when confirming he had been struggling with a muscle injury.
“Carver, of course, has come from non-league and perhaps two starts in three days was a big ask for his body as he adapts the the rigours of the Football League again.
“In midfield, Tom Crawford earned his spot in the starting XI recently after a fabulous display in the FA Cup against Blackpool but he has been substituted by Lee in each of the last two games with Crawford a little bit off in Tuesday’s draw with Carlisle.
“In comes Mark Shelton as the ‘wolfpack’ reunite in the Pools midfield and Lee will need a big performance from them today.
“It’s a big game for Pools. They need a win.”
𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖 𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝
Hartlepool United could be without new signing Marcus Carver today after Graeme Lee revealed the 28-year-old has a muscle injury.
Carver was handed his debut against Bristol Rovers last weekend and showed some encouraging signs for Pools supporters.
Lee kept faith in his new man on Tuesday at Carlisle United but Carver wasn’t able to reach the same levels with Lee citing his move from part-time into full-time football as the reason.
“I felt he looked a little bit fatigued. He just looked as though he lost a little bit of spark.
“We knew he was a little bit tight, I’d just hoped he had recovered a little bit more so he could have another crack at it.
“We’ve had a chat with him. Marcus needs to understand his body and where he is,” said Lee.
“He feels fine in himself but we just had a chat because he looked a little bit jaded from the game at the weekend.
“I thought his impact at Bristol Rovers was good, he just lacked that bit of sharpness in midweek but it was a frustrating game for both forwards.
“We moved the ball around the back a lot but didn’t really utilise the attacking threats or the movements they were doing.
“He’s got a little niggle at the moment so we’re touch and go whether he’s going to be fit and that probably highlights what we’ve spoken to him about with the fatigue and his body.”
𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙩
Hartlepool United have confirmed the allocation for their upcoming FA Cup fourth round tie with Crystal Palace has sold out with supporters snapping up all 4,700 tickets made available to them.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank our fans for their amazing and continuous support,” a club statement read.
Pools travel to Selhurst Park on Saturday, February 5 with kick-off at 3pm.
𝙋𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧
Hartlepool United are in the market for a goalkeeper after Jonathan Mitchell’s exit was confirmed this week.
Mitchell had been out of contract since the beginning of the year and failed to agree terms on a new deal before joining League One side Doncaster Rovers on Friday.
Mitchell’s exit leaves Pools light on numbers in the goalkeeping department with Ben Killip and youngster Patrick Boyes the only registered stoppers in Lee’s first team squad.
And the Pools boss has admitted he is in search of a new goalkeeper who can compete with Killip over the remainder of the season.
“We’ve got a couple of options there but we need to look at whether it’s a loan or a permanent option we’re trying to bring in.
“That’s why we’re being a bit more patient and we’re not jumping into something, we’re just waiting to see if something becomes available.
“Patrick’s development is good. He’s impressed through the season but at this moment we need somebody in who’s going to be pushing Ben.
“We need that stature. So we need another keeper.”
𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚
Good afternoon and welcome to the Suit Direct Stadium as Hartlepool United return to home soil for the visit of Stevenage.
This afternoon’s meeting with Paul Tisdale’s side provides Graeme Lee’s men another opportunity to get back to winning ways and end a run of just one win in 11 League Two games following a frustrating week on the road.
After a late defeat at Bristol Rovers last weekend, Pools were able to keep a clean sheet in a goalless draw with Carlisle United to edge 10 points clear of the drop zone.
Pools have not won in the league since their late joy over Rochdale in Lee’s first home game in charge and have failed to score in four of their last five League Two games including twice here at the Suit Direct Stadium.
And you can find out if Pools can end that run here today by staying tuned to our live blog at the Hartlepool Mail as we provide all the team news and updates throughout the afternoon here at the Suit Direct Stadium.