Hartlepool and Tamworth met at The Prestige Group Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and the visitors took all three points with a 1-0 victory. The match ended in the National League's Regular Season round 12, though the scoreline tells only part of the story. By then, Tamworth had already established what would prove sufficient.
And here's the thing about the 20th minute — J. Nolan stepped up for a penalty and failed to get over the line. That miss changed the complexion of the afternoon for Hartlepool, who had been pressing forward.
To be fair, Tamworth's defence held firm, but the opportunity to take the lead slipped through their fingers. K. Donnelly made up for lost time in the 42nd minute, and his strike found the back of the net. The away side worked patiently, waiting for the right moment to strike. Hartlepool had missed their chance, and Tamworth seized it when it mattered.
The figures suggest a fairly even contest, with both teams claiming 50% possession. Hartlepool registered 2 shots on target against 6 off, while Tamworth managed 3 on target and 4 off. Three shots on target for one goal means Tamworth made their chances count.
We had tipped a home win at 41% confidence, but the match went another way. The penalty miss was the moment that broke the prediction.
The defeat leaves Hartlepool in 22nd place with 9 points from 12 games, having lost all five of their recent outings. Tamworth move to 18th with 14 points, breaking a pattern of inconsistency. The result extends Hartlepool's winless run and gives the visitors something to build on.
