Pools Youth Team outdid their First Team counterparts on
Wednesday afternoon – by scoring an astonishing SEVEN goals in a brilliant away
After seeing Pools hit five in their triumph at Chesterfield
in the National League on Tuesday evening, Ian McGuckin's youngsters followed
suit less than 24 hours later.Having been disappointed by two defeats last week, including
an exit from the FA Youth Cup at the hands of South Shields, the Youth Team were
keen to put the record straight.And they did so in style when they travelled to Damson Park,
running out 7-1 winners to get their NLFA campaign back up and running in
Warwickshire.“We said to the lads before the game that it was a test of character,”McGuckin revealed.
“Losing games isn't a nice feeling and it's obviously not
you want but it's part of football and you need the character and resilience to
show through – and I couldn't have asked any more of the lads.“It was some feat that we managed to score more than the
First Team but it's great that the Club has enjoyed two great results this
week.”The game actually started poorly for Pools when amisjudgement at the back allowed Solihull Moors to take the lead inside four minutes.
However, Pools recovered quickly and were on level terms on
10 minutes when Joe Grey closed down a defender from a throw-in, won possession
and then lobbed the keeper to make it 1-1.That settled nerves and Pools began knocking the ball around
more confidently, building an attack from their own half in to the feet of Grey
who then turned and got in behind the defence in the box to lay the ball off
for Aaron Willoughby to score.Grey then took matters in to his own hands on 25 minutes
when he looked surrounded by Moors players on the halfway line, only to find an
avenue to drive forward and then dink the ball over the advancing goalkeeper
from a tight angle.Pools made the points safe with a fourth goal right at the
start of the second half when Willoughby crossed for Grey, who got between two
defenders to plant a glancing header in to the bottom corner of the net to
complete his hat-trick.Adam Campbell then drove from midfield before linking up
well with Brook Miller, who returned the ball in to the midfielder to finish
well from a tricky angle for 5-1.Miller was the provider again on 69 minutes when his teasing
cross in behind the Moors defence picked out Keaton Sturdy who got to the ball
first and knocked it home from close range.The scoring was rounded off seven minutes from time when
Coleby Shepherd got in on the act – his cross from the left deceived everyone
in the middle and found its way across goal and in to the far corner of the net
for 7-1.“Their coach was very complimentary of the lads and ourenergy to close down and force mistakes,” added McGuckin.
“That is pleasing to hear and the performance is everything weare looking for so we need to keep that going now.”
Full Time: Solihull Moors 1 Pools 7
Pools: Lowerson, Miller (James 70), Thompson (Naisbett 70), Pilling, Webster, Campbell, Gibson, Sturdy, Willoughby (Chapman 60), Grey, Shepherd.
Subs not used: Wilson.