Live text coverage: Hartlepool United 4-3 Southend United
18:00 Good evening, and welcome to the live text coverage of Hartlepool United vs Southend United – kicking off at 19:45 at the Prestige Group Stadium!
18:15 Interesting set-up to the game here in Hartlepool.
Coming into this evening’s match, Nicky Featherstone’s side beat play-off side Forest Green Rovers to end a four-game winless and goalless run.
On the other hand, Kevin Maher’s Southend boasts an eight-game unbeaten streak – winning six and drawing two. Last weekend, they thrashed FC Halifax Town 6-2 away from home.
18:30 Head-to-Head
The last four meetings between the sides have ended in draws, with three of those goalless.
In August, an early Parkes own goal for Southend was cancelled out through Pools vice-captain Sheron at Roots Hall.
18:45 The lineups are in! Featherstone names an unchanged starting 11 following last weekend’s victory over Forest Green.
Lineup: Hayes (GK), Benn, John, Kouogun, McNally, Campbell, Nathan Sheron (C), Hunter, Miley, Reid, Sinclair
Subs: Parkes, Ferguson, Folarin, Sway, Oliver, Caton, Walker
18:48 As for the Shrimpers, Maher opts for SEVEN changes.
Lineup: Mason (GK), Scott-Morris, Goodliffe, Dallas, Hopper, Gubbins, Taylor, Miley, Parillon, Appiah-Forson, Boyes
Subs: Bridge, Austin, Cardwell, Morton, Kendall, Coker, Golding
19:10 Pools owner Landon Smith is in attendance for the last home game of the campaign!
19:30 Warm-ups for both sides have now come to a close. 15 minutes out from kick-off.
19:45 Underway at the Prestige Group Stadium!
(0-0)
1’ SOUTHEND ARE AHEAD AFTER JUST 20 SECONDS!!!!
What a start for the Shrimpers! Scott-Morris’ cross from the right causes a goalmouth scramble, with Dallas on hand to bundle home to give Southend a VERY early lead!
(0-1)
6’ CLOSE! Parillon fires just wide of the bottom-left corner from the edge of the Pools box.
(0-1)
16’ Dallas is released on goal but Hayes manages to smother the ball in the nick of time. Southend very much on top here.
(0-1)
23’ Pools suffer another scare as Boyes has an initial strike blocked, before his follow-up effort flashes over the bar.
(0-1)
26’ A first shot on target for Featherstone’s side, as Campbell’s low shot from range is comfortably saved by Mason.
(0-1)
30’ Gubbins is booked for a foul on Sinclair.
(0-1)
31’ SINCLAIR EQUALISES FOR POOLS!!!! It’s all square in Hartlepool! Miley’s curling set-piece from the right finds Sinclair, who clinically rifles home through the legs of Mason!
(1-1)
37’ Parillon’s strike inside the box forces a strong stop from Hayes.
(1-1)
39’ Reid drives centrally, before seeing his low shot from just outside the box stopped by Mason.
(1-1)
44’ Reid presses well and blocks Mason’s kick – but the goalkeeper manages to recover and clear away.
(1-1)
45’ Three minutes added on.
(1-1)
20:35 HT Hartlepool United 1-1 Southend United
Dallas’ opener inside 20 seconds had Southend cruising in the ascendancy, before Sinclair equalised for the hosts around the half-hour mark. All to play for going into the second period!
45’ Back underway – Pools captain Parkes replaces John, while Southend skipper Scott-Morris makes way for Austin.
(1-1)
46’ Sinclair neatly touches the ball down out the air and gets a curling shot off, which is saved by Mason.
(1-1)
47’ REID PUTS POOLS IN FRONT!!!!! The hosts’ quick start after the break is rewarded! Campbell expertly threads through Reid, who coolly slots home with a low effort!
(2-1)
54’ The ball drops to Austin in the box – his strike is blocked and then cleared away.
(2-1)
56’ Taylor is shown a yellow card.
(2-1)
57’ NEARLY! Reid’s dinked attempt from the edge of the box drifts narrowly wide of the left corner.
(2-1)
57’ Substitution for Hartlepool: Sway replaces Campbell.
(2-1)
63’ IT’S THREE FOR HARTLEPOOL!!!!! Sinclair bags a brace! Sway’s strike from close range is blocked, falling into the path of Sinclair. From there, the winger rounds Mason and fires home!
(3-1)
64’ Double change for Southend, with Bridge and Cardwell replacing Gubbins and Hopper.
(3-1)
72’ MILEY GETS A FOURTH!!!!! Incredible second half turnaround from Hartlepool! Sway is at the heart of the build-up play, chopping inside and laying off Miley, whose powerful strike deflects over Mason and into the back of the net!
(4-1)
75’ Almost five! Miley’s corner drops to Sinclair on the left side of the box, who sees his volley fly just wide.
(4-1)
75’ The Shrimpers’ Coker and Kendall come on for Parillon and Dallas.
78’ SOUTHEND PULL ONE BACK!!! Bridge’s cross comes out for Austin to guide home into the bottom-left corner at the back post! They couldn’t, could they?
(4-2)
78’ Three changes for Hartlepool: Walker, Caton and Oliver replace Miley, Reid and McNally.
(4-2)
85’ THE SHRIMPERS HAVE A THIRD!!!! What is going on here?!! Cardwell meets Austin’s cutback with a clever flick goalward, allowing Kendall to skilfully tap home! Comeback is well and truly ON!
(4-3)
ATTENDANCE: 3044, including 168 travelling supporters in the Shrimpers’ away end. Brilliant support in midweek from the Essex side!
90’ Five minutes added on. Will there be a final twist?
(4-3)
90+2’ Parkes attacks a teasing cross whipped in by Walker – but the referee blows for a foul on Mason.
(4-3)
21:40 FT Hartlepool United 4-3 Southend United
What a game! Sinclair’s brace helps Pools close out their home campaign with back-to-back wins in a seven-goal thriller! Southend’s eight-game unbeaten run comes to an end in the process.
21:45 Touching tribute here as the home supporters chant Featherstone’s name during Hartlepool’s lap of honour, in what has been a very entertaining final home game in charge for the Pools boss!
A deserved send-off for former Pools captain Featherstone, who has been at the club since 2014. A potential role at Hartlepool next season is still up in the air.
22:00 Featherstone on his send-off from the Pools fans: “I don’t get too carried away or too low. But I’ll remember that for a very long time. The support I had was quality tonight.”
22:10 Maher on his side’s performance: “To score as early as we did and to be in such control of the game – we just needed a moment to get the second goal. From our point of view, the goals we conceded were poor.
“[It’s] another game on Saturday and then play-offs the midweek after that. What an end to the season we could have.”
22:15 That’s all for tonight. Thank you to everyone who tuned in for the live coverage – the game certainly did not disappoint!
Hartlepool travel to Boston United on Saturday to close out their Enterprise National League campaign, while Southend face Wealdstone at home.
See you later!
