Feisty Affair at The Vic

As 90s trance hits reverberated along the East stand of Victoria Park before kick off, there was an unusual joviality amongst the Hartlepool faithful. The grumbles had gone, and there was an enthusiastic hubbub around the place like that of a christmas office party.

Pools were unbeaten in six going into today’s fixture, a run which had seen the team leave the threat of relegation behind. Sitting an impressive 17th with two games still in hand, the club was looking at those above them rather than the desperate few trapped below.

Twenty minutes passed at the Vic and the game sparked into action. The lively Luke James hurtled into the box one-on-one before being clipped by the chasing Krystian Pearce, who saw red for his cynicism.

Captain Billy Paynter stepped up to find the bottom corner, the keeper unlucky not to get a stronger hand on it, and Hartlepool led.

All of a sudden tempers had frayed. Celebrations turned to protestations as the two teams clashed in an ugly melee. A player a piece was booked, but the atmosphere had changed.

Hartlepool tore forward with their man advantage, the booked Nathan Thomas nearly falling into the away stand. The Mansfield fans were baying for blood and a hoard of police intercepted them. What had been a non-event was fast developing a Romanesque atmosphere.

Paynter struck the post, before Mansfield keeper and defender collided with each other. Another bitter argument ensued, this time between players of the same kit colour.

Things off the pitch were no better. Police rushed towards the toilets as the Mansfield mob set eyes on the home fans, the two separated by a thin, single barrier. Trouble failed to escalate, but not for want of trying.

Play resumed with the score 1-0, a section of the away support sensibly not returning.

Mentally at least, the players hadn’t either. Both teams swapped possession far too easily, Mansfield dragging a poor shot wide, before Nicky Featherstone had an effort deflected past the post at the other end.

The man advantage was far from telling, and Mansfield were the next to come close. Defender Ryan Tafazolli creeping in across the 6-yard box to force a clever save from Trevor Carson down to his right.

Moments later it was deja vu, this time Carson expertly diving to his left to deny Tafazolli with a wonderful reaction save.

Tempers began to fray again, the home fans this time voicing disgust at their own side’s pedestrian display. Town were in the ascendency despite having a hole at the back.

On 75 minutes, Pools were punished. Substitute Colin Daniel rifled into the top-right corner after the ball had fallen fortuitously to him, and the ten men of Mansfield were even.

Town weren’t to finish the game with their full quota of fan’s either, as another reveller was frog-marched away from the ground. They had brought a rowdy rather than respectable 300, but were set to leave with fewer.

With seven minutes left on the clock, the referee pointed to the spot again.

A jinxing run from Carl Magnay saw the defender fouled right on the edge of the area, the referee declaring it was just inside the box. Paynter confidently stepped up, firing the ball right down the middle past the diving keeper. Hartlepool were back in front.

Another smart save was needed from Carson five minutes later, another header from substitute Chris Beardsley forcing the Irishman down to his left.

As the final whistle went, the man of the match was announced as Paynter. Carson had been arguably overlooked, but the tall captain had carried his side during an awkward afternoon.

Hartlepool remain in 17th, as do Mansfield in 13th. But the fixture won’t be remembered fondly by many.