A really splendid LDV Vans Cup tie, full of fast-flowing football, incident and goals, culminates in City losing their second penalty shoot out of the season at Hartlepool.

A rip-roaring LDV Vans Trophy tie ended ultimately in defeat for the Tigers last night, but with the pressure to perform in the League lifted – and no doubt one or two players feeling that they might be playing for their future – City turned in a splendid fast-flowing performance that raised spirits amongst the 50 or so Tiger loyalists that stayed on past 10:30 to witness the customary penalty shoot-out defeat. Stand-out performances were turned in by Stuart Green, who combined strong running and superb vision with some tough tackling in the central midfield engine room, and Jon Walters, whose willingness to work his socks off and at times hold off 2-3 defenders when in possession of the ball was astounding.

With a number of Saturday’s first teamers populating key areas of the pitch City lined up:

Myhill
Thelwell Hinds Lewis Edge
Price Ashbee Green Keane
Facey Walters

Both teams were intent on playing open flowing football and the first half was full of chances. Most of Pools’ chances were spurned by Eifion Williams, who had a dreadful evening. On 12 minutes City scored the goal of the season to date. Thelwell was crowded by Pool attackers down near the corner flag, but crisp first-time passing between he, Ashbee and Price worked the ball clear. Possession was then switched left to the advancing Edge who bore down on the Pool last third before passing centrally to Facey. Delroy swept the ball to the right to Price, who laid it back for a Thelwell cross. His flat cross was met by a Pool defender, but a poor clearance dropped to Price’s feet 16 yards out wide right. Jason had a touch and lashed the ball into the roof of the net. A dozen passes from back to front culminated in a splendid goal.

Less than a minute into the second half it was two. Ashbee and Green pinged the ball around midfield before finding Walters in space down the left flank. Walters’ cross was pulled back to Green via a small deflection and the tenacious Cumbrian thumped his shot home from 12 yards.

Then the turning point, as City’s cruise to the next round was halted. Pools’ Williams was set free by lax marking after a goalkeeper clearance and as he advanced into the box he tipped the ball past Myhill, whose flailing arm hauled the striker to the ground for an obvious penalty. Myhill saw red, Duke replaced Keane and saw a crisp penalty whizz past him, it was game-on for the home side as they pressed forward in numbers. Within a few minutes they had created a succession of chances before drawing level as Edge’s poor clearance fell to ex-Grim Pouton who crashed home a low drive past Duke’s despairing dive. Pools continued to press and had several more chances cleared (including 3 shots in 3 seconds after a run of five corners) but the City defence just about held on, Duke growing in confidence with his handling after a very shaky start.

Between the red card and the end of 90 minutes Taylor had used his remaining substitutes, Thelwell being withdrawn for Wiseman (who had a “rabbit in car headlights” look about him for 10-15 minutes before he settled) and a weary Facey going off in favour of Elliott. It was Elliott’s direct running coupled with Green’s vision and Walters’ hard work that carved the ten men of City a number of chances in extra time, the one that was converted came as a result of Green dispossessing Pouton on the halfway line and feeding Walters, who had run intelligently into space for the umpteenth time of the night. Walters’ cross found Elliott on the edge of the penalty box and after a dodgy first touch Stuart dug the ball out from under his feet and rammed the ball home off the keeper’s hand.

Alas, the unlikely victory was not to be, as a deep cross from the right was headed back across the face of Duke’s goal to Porter, who lamped a shot in off the crossbar.

So 3-3 at the end of open play and off to penalties. Pools started first and found the corners powerfully with all four efforts. Our three were all of the hit and hope variety, two were hit well within the keeper’s reach and duly saved. And so it became 0 and 5 in shoot-outs for City in the last 30 years or so. LDV Vans dreams shattered. It should be a cracker on Saturday.

HULL CITY (4-4-2): Myhill; Thelwell, Hinds, Lewis, Edge; Price, Ashbee, Green, Keane; Facey, Walters.  Subs: Duke (for Keane, 53), Wiseman (for Thelwell, 68), Elliott (for Facey, 69), France, Allsopp.

Goals: Price 12; Green 46; Elliott 107

Booked: Edge, Keane

Sent Off: Myhill

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Konstantopoulos, Barron, Nelson, Brackstone, Robson, Istead, Strachan, Pouton, Woods, Williams, Porter.  Subs: Boyd (for Istead, 69), Craddock (for Barron, 77), Humphreys (for Pouton, 112), Provett, Tinkler.

Goals: Strachan 55 (pen), Pouton 60, Porter 114

Booked: None

Sent Off: None

REFEREE: C Webster

ATTENDANCE: 1,535