There were epic limbs from Hartlepool fans for their late winner at Doncaster Rovers as stewards struggle to control the scenes playing out.
It was a huge victory for the North East club with a late goal by Dan Dodds becoming their second win in seven League Two matches.
The hosts was the more aggressive throughout the game, but they struggled to stop Pools, who displayed only a glimpse of attacking threat just before Dodds’ excellent strike on 88 minutes.
Hartlepool’s fans celebrate an 88th minute winner away at Doncaster which kept them out of the League Two relegation zone by a single point on Saturday.
It doesn’t matter how “successful” your team are, there’s no feeling like a last-gasp winner. pic.twitter.com/T6DWOg9Tfd
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) February 6, 2023
Hartlepool boss Keith Curle referred to three of the five deadline-day signings in the starting lineup which included eight of their 11 new arrivals in January.
Harrison Biggins was the main goal threat. He had multiple chances in both halves. After good build-up play, he hooked a shot from 15 yards wide and looped a header just short of the bar. Kyle Hurst had an attempt blocked.
Doncaster’s best chance was Caolan Lavery firing straight at Jakub Solarczyk, Pools goalkeeper. George Miller had slid through after the break.
After 88 minutes, Dodds got the breakthrough. He was sent clear to the right and then he hit a shot off the far side.
“I said it in the team meeting that everybody today had to play their part and that was evident,” said Keith Curle as per Hartlepool Mail.
“All the lads that travelled who didn’t make the bench or make the first team, to get that unity it means everybody.
“If you travel and you’re not involved you still play a massive part. We won that as a group and as a unit and we need that unity.”
Curle added: “I’m buzzing. It’s what you’re in the game for.
“You’ve made acquisitions to improve the squad and then you want to see them go out and perform and, ultimately, getting a result the changing room merits.
“It’s been a busy couple of days with the end of the January transfer window and bedding the players in.
“We knew we were going to be playing against a very good team in Doncaster so we tried to be solid as a team without them really hurting us.
“We had the two best chances in the first half and then we scored a goal on the counter attack. The changing room needed that and the changing room have earned that.”
A bet is a bet 😁
Post-match with Keith Curle as he tells us all about his deal with @dandodds4 👇
👉 https://t.co/OKpN75nMcW#HUFC pic.twitter.com/3aUpF63OCd
— Hartlepool United FC (@Official_HUFC) February 4, 2023
“It’s difficult sometimes when a team is sitting in really deep, and Hartlepool did that really well,” said Danny Schofield as per Hartlepool Mail.
“We didn’t have that final action and quality in the final third to result in a goal.
“We were unsure on which players they’d select, which shape and tactical formation, but it is what it is. We just dealt with that the best we could and focused on what we could do with and without the ball.
“For large parts of the game I thought we were good but [we] suffered on the counter late in the game.
“We conceded a number of goals in the previous game and we wanted to really improve on that which I thought, for large periods, we did.”
Schofield added: “We knew Hartlepool would come here full of fight. They’re fighting for their lives and we needed to be up for the challenge. That was my first message to the players.
“I thought we defended well and were aggressive enough and fell short in our attacking final third.”
“It’s never part of the plan to lose football games. It’s about winning football games and we try to prepare the team as much as possible to do that.
“You’ve got another team wanting to do the same thing and in the last three games we’ve fallen short on that front.”
Twitter users gave their thoughts as footage showing stewards struggle to control epic limbs from Hartlepool fans for the late winner at Doncaster…
@AinsleyCooper94: Hats off to the travelling Pool fans they were excellent. Our performance was poor barring a short spell in the second half. There is a very toxic atmosphere amongst our fanbase at the moment for obvious reasons. We’re miles away from where we should be due to poor ownership.
@adampinder0711: Jonno Mitchell definitely wanted to join in 😂
@mhanger331: Did you notice the Steward slipping over? 🤣🤣👌🔵⚪️💙
@shauneveritt2: Buzzing for Pools, hope they stay up and the lads I met on the train yesterday had a good day at York and Donny 👍
@michaelbratt2: Class in there when we scored #nsd
@_toosb: What a great following for a team near the bottom of League 2
@oggycompton: Have to say as a Donny fan, your fans were excellent throughout. Well done.
@TheRealLKA: Could only be topped by @jonomitchell turning around and fist pumping his fellow Poolies 💪🏼
@mfcbeng: north east football on top forever and always. this is a team in a relegation battle in league 2 and teams like swansea take about 500 away from home
@liamalexanderj: No better feeling.
@_wellerrr: i think the reaction to them hitting the post firstly which made the fans think it was close to then it hitting the net is what makes this video. carnage
@JacksonsCorner_: This is ace. The split second reaction when they think it’s hit the post and gone out and then into carnage.
@tompheasey__: My fucking god we needed yesterday so badly, surely the only way is up now
@adamdav_1998: Good Jesus.. Limbs all over the place 😮💨 👌🏻
@KylianSambappe: Quickest I’ve ever seen Mitchell distribute the ball 😆😆 #DRFC
@JWheelhouse_01: Just a reminder we’re 22nd in League 2 and look at that man 🤩 Best in the business 🤝
@HendryMatty: The half celebration when it hits the post then the eruption straight after 🥶😮💨
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