Oh I don't know - they were rubbish. Ok, they played better football than last season but got stuffed by a poor side who we beat last season (having been beaten at Swansea where we drew last season!). The inference is that we are not going to be as successful as last season. Relegated by Christmas. I agree about Barr to a degree, I thought Brightwell was better even though both of them gave the ball away far too often. Harries looked good when he came on. But their keeper did not have one save to make whereas Weaver made a superb double save in the second half. Yes, that's right - NOT ONE SHOT ON TARGET!! Walker missed an open goal with a free header from less than a yard!!!! As for Tracey - he must be one of the all-time worst players to have played for Carlisle - come back George Oghani!!! However, we were not beaten by Hartlepool or even by ourselves. No, I blame Wolstenholme the referee. He let them get away with virtual murder in the first half - we thought he'd forgotten his cards. One incident that stands out to me was late on where their player on their right wing, faced by Clark six feet away, stood on the ball and fell over. Free kick to them! Clark would have had to double the length of his arms in order to touch him! Mind you, I don't think that it should have been a penalty to us. I fail to understand how a player (Harries in this case) can claim to have his shirt pulled from behind and yet fall forward - maybe the ref got something right? Anyone in the Paddock get a better view? They say that good teams don't turn bad overnight - it takes a fortnight. Mansfield's season starts on Saturday with a big home win over a totally demoralised Carlisle side still reeling from a ten-nil drubbing at the hands of Grimsby (who fielded their ladies team as it was only the Worthington Cup). Rob Scott-Buccleuch
An away fans perspective. A mini match report from a happy Poolie freshish back from the Carlisle game. A guess would be 800-1000 Poolies travelled across. Sang for the full 90 and generally had a fantastic day out. Freestone twisted round and bent one in the top corner of the net after just three minutes when Tennebo (more on him later) return a corner back into the danger area. This was the sort of early confidence boost both Freestone and Pool desperately needed. Nothing much more in the first half, happy to get to half time 0-1 up. In the second Pool's were attacking towards the end of the main stand with the Poolie faithful in it. On 52 minutes Gary Jones sent a ball towards Freestone, it looked like the defender would cut it out, but he hesitated and Freestone pounced, slipping the ball under the body of the advancing Weaver, cue huge celebrations right in front of the Poolies. 4 minutes later and it was all over. Tommy Miller cut in from the right, spotted Weaver off his line and chipped him from just outside the box. Cue even more celebrations in front of the wildly celebrating Poolies. Tennebo was denied one late on and the rebound was smashed goalwards by Miller, but Weaver blocked with his legs. Jones was also denied. 0-3, great result. Man of the match, Thomas Tennebo on his debut played superbly, taking all the set pieces, spraying the ball around, setting up chances, he looks a brilliant prospect and is still along way from full match fitness. Him and Miller virtually ran the midfield by themselves, drive and imagination which was sorely missing against Halifax. The season has officially begun. Cheers, Kev
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