Under 18s match report: Hartlepool United 2-1 Burton Albion.
Burton’s unbeaten league run came to an end as the hard-working under 18s were downed by Hartlepool on Saturday.
Jayden Cotterill had given the visitors a half time lead before Dylan Elliot and Kenton Richardson scored to hand the home side all three points.
It was an end-to-end game, with neither side able to maintain long spells of possession. The Brewers could have taken the lead in the 10th minute, when Dylan Garnett’s hard work out wide opened up the space for a cross, however, the ball would narrowly evade Mirza Sejdic.
Burton took the lead just seven minutes later when a brilliant piece of individual skill from Cotterill gave him a sight of goal - he drove home for his first club goal.
The Brewers held out until the second half, Burton lost possession from a throw in and Dylan Elliot was found in the six yard box, where he casually slotted the ball home.
The home side took the lead around 15 minutes later under controversial circumstances. Burton cleared the ball from a corner and the resulting ball back in seemed to fall to an offside player. No flag was raised and Kenton Richardson scored to secure the points for the hosts.
Burton created chances throughout but were unable to double their tally as they fell to their first league loss of the season, whereas, Hartlepool are yet to taste defeat this campaign.
Mike Whitlow took positives from the result despite the disappointment: “I’d say the first half was better than the second for us. I thought we moved the ball better in the first than the second but all credit to Hartlepool.
“They capitalised on getting an equaliser from our throw in which is something we have to deal with better when in possession and then, to be honest, we didn’t have enough quality in and around their box and I think coming away after such a long journey, conceding from a set play that we had defended ever so well and cleared their lines.
“I think everyone, including their manager, thought the lad was two or three yards offside, but that is football. They put a shift in today, they worked their socks off they’ve come four hours and have another journey back but there were a lot a positives.
“Jayden Cotterill, I thought, had a very good game today as did Tom Hammerton in centre midfield as a first year so the two first years did well. I thought Jack O’Brien had led the team well at the back and Marcus Dinanga ,who came off after an hour due to it being his third game in a short period of time, worked his socks off. Dylan Garnett also caused them problems on the wing.
“Hartlepool had some good players and some good individual performances; it was a good game.”
The Brewers now go onto face Mansfield next Saturday.