K MALZEARD........3

Pool AFC..............2

POOL made the long trip to Kirkby Malzeard knowing that nothing less than a win would do to keep their diminishing hopes of the championship alive.

All seemed well when Carl Wilson put them ahead after a couple of minutes but they failed to capitalise giving Kirkby the incentive to lift their game.

Neither goal was particularly threatened until a spectacular long range shot from a Kirkby forward was kept out of one corner by Pool 'keeper Paul Wilkinson but to his despair he dropped it into the other corner.

Pool generally seemed out of sorts but take nothing away from the home side as they worked hard and deservedly took the lead. Poor defending gave them the chance to force the ball home from close range.

A well-taken goal from Wilson again restored the status quo, Pool now looking the most likely to take the spoils. An astonishing decision by the referee may well have had a bearing on the final outcome when the Kirkby centre-back cynically took Wilson out with a late tackle before virtually ripping the shirt off his back as he tried to manhandle him off the pitch.

A basic red card offence if ever there was one but a talking to was deemed sufficient. Who knows what might have happened if they had been reduced to ten men. In the event it was Kirkby who took the points courtesy of a goalkeeping error.

A win by Boroughbridge means that Pool now lie second on goal difference so a victory on Sarurday at Boroughbridge is imperative if Pool are not to risk dropping out of the ton two. Pool's match point went to Carl Wilson.

Pool A................2

Thirsk Falcons....1

Thirsk came to Pool with seven regular players out but that did not mean anything to Pool who started the stronger with Trimnell and Smallshaw both going close and both should have scored.

In the 20th minute Thirsk were reduced to ten men when a player kicked out at Jones and was sent off. Pool had further chances but Kitchen shot wide and Trimnell shot over.

Some good work at the back from Boulton, Newns, Jones and Howden denied Thirsk anything in the first-half and Wilkinson in goal looked solid.

Pool took the lead towards the end of the half when Newns took a throw in to Boulton and he kicked upfield for Smallshaw to head over the 'keeper and score his first goal for the club.

The second-half saw the introduction of Chris Wilkinson for Forrest and again Pool started brightly. Some good runs by Myers produced good chances only for him to fire over twice. Howden showed some skill with his dazzling runs only to get tackles and lose the ball. Thirsk levelled when a player ran past three Pool defenders to slot the ball past the stranded 'keeper. This goal left Pool fuming and eager to go out for the winner and with ten minutes to go Howden received the ball in his own half, looked up and saw Wilkinson on the right in acres of space and knocked a nice ball to him.

Wilkinson took the ball on and fired in a thunderbolt from 25 yards. Thirsk finished well but could not find an equaliser. Pool's match point went to Smallshaw who showed class and some lethal finishing.

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