Northallerton.....3

Pool........................2

IF ever the immortal saying that football is a game of two halves was to be uttered in a post match inquest, this would be the match they were talking about.

The young guns of Northallerton totally ran the show in the first-half with the big match experienced Pool team evidently enjoying the warm, spring, sunshine to relax in the confines of Northallerton's impressive enclosed ground.

One can only assume that their minds were on the forthcoming visit of Ilkley in the Senior Cup semi-final on Saturday or the League Challenge Cup quarter-final which follows, or maybe they were still basking in the glory of last week's memorable Cup win at Otley Town.

Either way they were not at the races as Northallerton's three goal half-time lead could easily have been more.

All this having been said, the two best moves of the half came from Pool, Singleton and Healey combining to split the defence with the 'keeper saving well, then a second similar combination involving Megson just failing to produce the goods.

Though the scope of an awakening was there late in the half with the home side's crossbar being struck late on. Whatever manager Martin Dennison said at half-time did the trick. Northallerton had barely drawn breath before Shaun Joyce was pulled down in the penalty area, stepping up to convert the spot kick himself.

Pool could have been level within minutes as they camped in the home third of the park. A string of corners passing through the danger area with only the last vital touch missing. Northallerton were shell-shocked, putting together no more than a handful of breaks to worry the now solid defence of Dobson, Willoughby, Ingle and Studds, ably supported by keeper Allinson. Then with ten minutes remaining, Pool set up a grandstand finish when Joyce broke through for his and Pool's second.

Northallerton were now hanging on grimly and had Chris Graham kept his footing when brother Andy found him with a pin-point pass Pool would surely have got the point they deserved.

However, the defeat probably ended Pool's championship hopes, leaving neighbours Burley Trojans, Kirkby Malzeard and outsider Boroughbridge Reserves to fight that one out while Pool put their resources into trying to win the League Senior Cup and retaining the League Challenge Cup.

Rawdon.....................4

Pool Res....................0

A venue switch due to the recent foot and mouth outbreak saw Pool Reserves travel to Rawdon needing all three points to help their fight against relegation.

The game started scrappily with both teams unable to pass to their own team members. After the first ten minutes Pool settled and started to create some chances with Forrest opening the scoring after 15 minutes after some nice football down the left. The rest of the half was even as both teams became rushed and were unable to come to terms with an uneven pitch.

At half-time Pool felt as though they had done enough to leading but they knew it wasn't over as Rawdon also needed all three points. Pool's lead doubled 20 minutes into the second-half from a Dave Newbould penalty after Foote was pushed over in the box.

Ten minutes later Newbould made it 3-0 with a tap in from close range. The scoring was completed when Waite fired home from outside the box. In the end Pool was happy with the result but they thought they could have made it easier as chances were missed with Foote the main culprit. Match Point went to D Nicholson for a battling display.

Pool A.....................0

Tockwith Res.........0

On a spring afternoon, with the warm rays of sun breaking through the clouds, Pool A entertained fourth position Tockwith Res.

In a close game chances at goal were very rare, skipper Jones and veteran Forbes defending the Pool goal like warriors in battle. Covering, Evans and Wilkinson tided up any loose balls which could have been a danger.

Groves and Boulton worked hard in the middle, with Hodginson trying to create a chance at goal. The nearest Pool came to scoring was a Forbes free-kick, but this sailed a yard over the bar. The Pool manager Steve Murphy was pleased with a point. Man-of-the-Match was shared between G Evans and Forbes.