Hunter stunner secures Pools three points on Opening Day

It was an exciting atmosphere at Huish Park before kickoff, as the Pools faced newly promoted Yeovil Town in their season opener.

With form out of the window for this one, Darren Sarll returned to his former club hoping to go back North with all three points.

The Pools starting eleven included four debutants in Jack Hunter, Adam Campbell, Luke Charman, and Nathan Sheron. Dan Dodds also started, returning from a lengthy spell out with an ACL injury.

The first 15 minutes saw very little chances for both sides, both trying to figure each other out in their tactics and way of play. The Pools having the better of the chances.

The first real chance of the game came in the 15th minute from a cross by Luke Charman on the right-hand side, it was a very inviting ball into Mani Dieseruvwe, however the striker couldn’t get contact on it.

With the game being very stop start, both sides struggled to gather momentum with play and struggled to create chances.

Yeovil trying long balls up to their striker Aaron Jarvis, however the Pools backline defended well on every occasion.

The next real chance of the game came in the first and only minute of stoppage time in the first half, the ball falling to debutant Charman on the right-hand side of the box, he went for the volley however he blasted it over the bar.

Half time arrived and the game was still in deadlock at 0-0. The Pools having the better of the chances, whilst also proving very solid defensively. Luke Charman impressing on debut, with most of the forward play coming through him.

The first chance of the second half came in the 52nd minute, and it again was a chance for the Pools. Adam Campbell released Joe Grey on the right, Grey drove and had his long range effort blocked by the Yeovil defender.

In the 57th minute, a deep cross found Dieseruvwe in the box, he then headed it down teeing up a shot for Nathan Sherron on the penalty spot, his goal bound header blocked by a sliding Yeovil Town defender.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 65th minute, debutant Jack Hunter received the ball outside the edge of the box, he curled it low with his right foot into the far bottom right corner. An absolute screamer from the new man.

There was no let off from the Pools after their first goal, a 73rd minute corner saw Tom Parkes just narrowly shave the crossbar with his headed effort.

Soon after that, Yeovil’s Jordan Young had an effort just go wide of the left hand post, after a long range curling effort. The first real chance of the half that Yeovil had created.

The final 15 minutes of the 90 saw the home side press for an equaliser, creating many chances to try and salvage a point, however this only showcased the brilliant defending of the Pools backline.

After a lengthy seven minutes of added time, referee David Rock blew for full time, which was followed by cheers in the away end.

1-0 the full time score, courtesy of a rocket by debutant Jack Hunter in the 65th minute.

This result gives the Pools great confidence before hosting Southend United at home next.

Pools Lineup: Dixon, Dodds (Onariase, 90+4), Waterfall (C) (Sass-Davies, 70), Parkes, Ferguson, Hunter, Sheron, Campbell (Stephenson, 90), Charman (Mancini, 79), Grey, Dieseruvwe

Unused Subs: Smith, Featherstone, Steel

Attendance: 3646