Ian McGuckin paid tribute to his young players after Pools
booked their place in the next round of the FA Youth Cup with a brilliant 6-0
Pools proved too much for their hosts during the Edgeley
Park encounter and their emphatic win sets up another exciting away tie at
Accrington Stanley in the First Round Proper.“I am over the moon for the lads – they did everything weasked of them and more really,” McGuckin enthused.
“They showed a good attitude, a solid approach to the game
and they put on a really professional performance so I hope they enjoyed the
night with a great result at the end of it.”It was Stockport who actually started the brighter on thenight and Pools had some defending to do in the very early stages.
However, McGuckin's men struck the opening goal on seven minutes when Aaron Willoughby got away down the outside to cross for Jay Gibson who arrived from midfield to head home and that seemed to settle Pools down.
There was a second goal midway through the first half when
more good approach work saw the ball fed in to the box for Joe Grey who
side-footed in from close range to make it 2-0.The momentum was really with Pools after that and another
great burst down the flank enabled a cross in to the box where Coleby Shepherd
got free to add a third goal.County were struggling to cope with Pools attacking intent
and it was 4-0 just before half-time when yet more great build-up play saw play
switched from one side to the other before Grey applied the finishing touch.It got even better for Pools just after the break when Adam
Campbell broke with determination from midfield, charged past a couple of
Hatters defenders and finished clinically to make it 5-0.And Campbell was instrumental again when the sixth goal
arrived, this time his powerful run was halted by a foul in the box and
Harrison Webster calmly converted from the resulting penalty.“Two away games in the competition so far and 13 goals – so longmay it continue,” added McGuckin.
“It will obviously get tougher as we progress but the lads
loved that – and fair play to Stockport because they were very welcoming and it
was a brilliant experience for our players to play in a big, old stadium like
that.“Accrington will be a different kinds of experience for us
again and will be tough but we'll look forward to it and I'm sure we can
compete for a place in the next round.”Full Time: Stockport County 0 Pools 6
Pools: Young, Wilson (James 60), Pilling (Naisbett 70), Thompson, Webster, Campbell, Gibson, Willoughby, Leonard, Shepherd, Grey (Chapman 60).
Subs not used: Lowerson, Sturdy.