Carlton Athletic 4 Pool 1

CARLTON are fast becoming a bogey side for Pool.

Last season the Wakefield-based side beat their rivals three times to pip them to the Division One title, and Saturday’s success was all but settled by half-time.

Pool were a poor shadow of the side that had beaten Mount Pleasant 8-1 in the West Riding FA County Challenge Cup the previous week during the opening 45 minutes.

The three goals were disappointing from a Pool perspective.

The first sneaked just inside the post as the Pool defence stood and watched. The second was a looping header which lobbed over the defence, and the third came when they failed to clear giving the home striker the easiest of finishes.

It was a different Pool side that emerged after the break. It might have been a different story if Tom Flemming had managed to beat the keeper when through on goal within minutes of the restart.

Pool dominated a large slice of the second half, but were unable to make the pressure count.

It was unfortunate when a Carlton free kick from wide on the right found its way into the top corner, much against the run of play.

Pool continued to press, and when substitute Harvey Atkinson controlled the ball well before firing an unstoppable shot into the net, it was no more than they deserved.

The goal proved to be no more than a consolation, but Pools second half display, proved again what they are capable of.