Hartlepool United Football Club

Luke Chapman fired a hat-trick as Pools Youth Team put

further pressure on the teams above them in the NLFA Northern Division with a

3-0 win over Boston United at Welfare Park.

In-form front man Chapman had the ball in the net within 40

seconds against The Pilgrims before adding two more in the second half to

secure the win and extend Pools' brilliant unbeaten run to nine games.

The victory was Pools' seventh in their last nine outings

and has further increased belief in the camp that they can have a say in the title

race in the closing months of the campaign.

“It was a solid win and I think we were good value for it,”said Head Coach Ian McGuckin afterwards.

“We probably should have scored a few more goals, especially

after going in front in the first minute but the windy conditions were really

difficult to play in so we're happy with the 3-0 win, of course.”

Chapman opened the scoring less than a minute in to the contest

at Blackhall when he made an intelligent run in behind the Boston defence to

receive the ball and he confidently tucked it past the keeper.

However, the floodgates refused to open for Pools despite themcreating numerous good chances during a dominant first half.

Chapman was denied by a brave save by the visiting keeper

and saw another effort go just wide, while Coleby Shepherd also brought a good block

from the goalkeeper after cutting inside from the right.

It took until five minutes in to the second half for McGuckin's

youngsters to extend their advantage when right-back Oliver James showed great

tenacity to get to the byline before putting a lovely ball across for Chapman

who bundled it home at the front post.

Chapman could have had his treble when he prodded an effort

just wide of the post, while Jake Grey saw a shot cleared off the line by a

recovering defender after he had beaten the keeper to a forward ball.

The clinching goal came from five minutes from time when a

ball was whipped from the right-hand side and Chapman found space to nod home

at the far post to put a seal on Pools' win.

“We're pleased with the way the lads are performing, we're

stacking up the points and I can't really ask any more of them at the moment –

we just need to keep it going,” added McGuckin.

Full Time: Pools 3 Boston United 0

Pools: Lowerson, James, Naisbett, Pilling, Webster (Willoughby 60), Sturdy (Wilson 77), Leonard, Gibson, Shepherd, Grey, Chapman.
Sub not used: Miller.

https://youtu.be/bxcmKAbonaw