Hartlepool United Women’s winless start to 2024 continued against Spennymoor Town, going down 5-2 at New Ferens Park. It wasn’t for the want of trying as a committed Pools side battled throughout but they were picked off by a ruthless Moors side.
Pools gave a positive account of themselves in the opening stages and had the first major opportunity of the game as Jade Pye struck wide from Lottie Portas’s in-swinging corner.
Sadly, it wasn’t long before Spennymoor went ahead. Katy Hemmingway beat the Pools offside trap to charge down on goal and poke an effort past Ella Field to put the hosts in front.
This sprang Spennymoor into the ascendancy and they quickly doubled their advantage in the 19th minute. Caitlin Bates directed a free-kick towards goal that was flicked in by Autumn Colledge from close-range. Bates added the third goal just two minutes later, beating Field to the ball before tapping into an empty net to give the Moors a healthy advantage.
Pools found a lifeline through Robyn Foster who netted her fifth goal of the season in the 33rd minute. Foster met Anya Geary’s layoff, and with the aid of touches from a Spennymoor defender and the goalkeeper, found the back of the net to reduce the deficit.
This reawakened Spennymoor however, and they regained the three-goal cushion two minutes later. Bates slotted past Field to make it 4-1 ahead of half-time.
Hartlepool came out for the second half with renewed energy, having made three changes at the break, and enjoyed more possession. It wasn’t long before they found a reward - Eden Pearson’s pinpoint through ball played in Foster who confidently finished past the keeper for her second of the game.
From then onwards, Pools applied the pressure but failed to create many clear-cut chances on goal. If either team looked like scoring, it was still the hosts, as Field made a terrific save on 80 minutes to tip Shannon Reed’s 25-yard effort wide.
Spennymoor added a fifth late on, which came somewhat against the run of play given Hartlepool’s improved second half display. Reed squared to Drew Seymour who netted past Field for the final goal of the game.
Pools: Field, Kennedy (Coleman 46), Pye, Charlie Geary, Garside, Foster, Basnett (Morgan Johnson 46), Portas, Morrison (McIndoe 63), Anya Geary (Fielding 46), Pearson (Bilcliff 58)