The entertainers

HEADS I WIN: Kelvin Lomax is beaten to the ball by Antony Sweeney.

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Hartlepool 3, Athletic 3

CARLSBERG don’t do League One football but, if they did, they would pay Athletic a fortune to star in every match.

This was another crackling, highly-charged encounter involving John Sheridan’s table-toppers, who remained the division’s only unbeaten side after a battle of epic proportions.

Let’s be honest, they should have been celebrating another triumph after leading 2-0 at half-time — of that there is no doubt.

Hartlepool’s fightback to go 3-2 up within a five-minute spell left Athletic staggering around like lager louts at the end of a session, yet they pulled themselves together to draw level. And they almost snatched victory near the end despite a red card for captain Sean Gregan.

You don’t need strong drink to enjoy watching Athletic these days, for they have scored 18 goals in seven league games and are deserving of their lofty perch.

Hartlepool are a tough proposition at home but, apart from that one spell of untypical kamikaze defending, Sheridan’s men were the better team.

In particular, Chris Taylor led Hartlepool a merry dance as he spun and pirouetted across their back four, keeping everybody guessing as to which way he might dash off next.

Though Taylor has always possessed that ability, the end-product hasn’t always been there. Well it is now, with Saturday’s brace making it six goals this term — already beating his tally for the whole of last season.

The winger is one goal ahead of Lee Hughes, whose recovery from a groin problem meant Athletic were unchanged from the win against MK Dons (and Sheridan also named three forwards on the bench, a sign of attacking intent).

When fit, Hughes is an automatic selection. He’s the most natural finisher of the club’s recent past, and in the first half at Victoria Park he was at it again.

The striker’s 23rd-minute header helped his side gain firm control of a Hartlepool team whose own reputation for bold football is well known.

Athletic became efficient to the point of ruthlessness as their opponents tumbled downhill. Then came half-time and — wait a minute, what’s going on? — the roles were totally reversed.

Hartlepool themselves must have been shocked by the speed of their comeback as Athletic, having kept four clean sheets in five outings, suffered a mid-game crisis.

And, just as suddenly, Taylor’s second goal put them back on top, prompting the visitors to go all out for victory, even after Gregan was dismissed 16 minutes from time.

Once he’d set off to make a challenge on Ritchie Jones, who was threatening to burst clear from halfway, Gregan knew he had to get there or incur the wrath of referee Tony Bates.

Unfortunately he was too late and sent Jones flailing through the air, a bad tackle deemed worthy of a straight red.

Earlier in a game of unremitting drama, Athletic had gone agonisingly close in the 14th minute when Neal Eardley skipped into the box and hit a blistering angled drive against the woodwork.

It would have been a stunning goal by Eardley, and the full-back was also behind Athletic’s next opening when his cross was headed wide by Hughes.

As the away side Athletic were showing great adventure and, midway through the half, a rapid break from their own penalty area led to the breakthrough.

Danny Whitaker, who had just covered 80 yards to earn a corner, took over the setpiece and crossed for Hughes to send an accurate close-range header inside the post.

On the balance of chances there was no doubt who deserved to lead and, though Hartlepool had a good penalty shout for Eardley’s tackle on James Brown, Sheridan’s men struck again before the break.

Andy Liddell collected Lewis Alessandra’s pass and hit an angled shot which was only parried out — Taylor slid in to finish and you had to think the job was largely done.

Except, of course, Hartlepool were sure to raise their game at the start of the second half, desperately seeking a goal on which to base some hope of revival.

And they did — my word they did — as Athletic well and truly caved in.

Strike One, 48 minutes: Athletic switched off at a left-wing free-kick and allowed Andy Monkhouse a free header eight yards out.

Strike Two, 49 minutes: Visiting ’keeper Mark Crossley appeared to be wrong-footed by a volley, tipping it against the bar before Antony Sweeney followed up.

Strike Three, 53 minutes: Gregan was punished for a tug on Brown’s shirt, with Joel Porter converting the resultant penalty.

And when you consider Hartlepool also missed a sitter during that very same period, you get a fair idea of the carnage in Athletic’s box.

Another twist soon arrived, however, as the visitors pushed out for an attack which saw Alessandra blocked off and Taylor seize on the loose ball to equalise from 12 yards.

Next, Athletic sub Chris O’Grady skimmed the bar, Arran Lee-Barrett denied Taylor a hat-trick, Gregan was sent off, Ritchie Byrne went on for his debut, Hillary Clinton parachuted into the centre circle . . . . well okay, but you get the picture.

In the closing minutes it was hard to believe Athletic were a man down as they did all the pressing against a panic-stricken home side.

Craig Davies missed by half an inch after lobbing the ’keeper, but ultimately, and despite the loss of a 2-0 lead, this was another valuable point in Athletic’s early-season march.

We showed character — Sheridan

ATHLETIC’S draw at Hartlepool was only the second time in seven league games this season that they had failed to win, but manager John Sheridan was full of praise for his side.

Sheridan said: “I thought we were excellent and it was a very good performance apart from a mad five minutes.

“Even at 3-2 down and again with 10 men we played very well. It’s disappointing not to win from 2-0 up, but I’m pleased with the character we showed.

“I’ve told the lads I could go on about the goals we conceded, but we’ve defended well this season and I’m putting it down to a mad five minutes.

“That doesn’t mean we won’t try to put it right, but I won’t criticise them too much because hopefully it was one of those things.

“It was all our own doing because in the second half we came out sloppy, it’s as simple as that.

“We were in a comfort zone and at half-time I was happy with our defending because Hartlepool hadn’t made many chances.

“To be fair, I thought the game was probably over and done with, but you have to remember we were playing a very good footballing side.

“For 85 minutes of the game we looked solid, but I’ll reflect on the other five and look at what we can do better.

“I know where the mistakes came from, but we’ve conceded three goals very quickly and last season we probably would have folded.

“Instead of that we got stronger, and I was very pleased that the three subs (Chris O’Grady, Ritchie Byrne and Craig Davies) went on and did very well.

“We showed character and it’s a good point, although to win under those circumstances would have been great.

“That would have happened if Craig’s shot had gone in, but there was only one team going to win it at the end.

“Obviously there are things to work on because you should win the game from 2-0 up, so in that sense I’m disappointed.

“But the lads have done well again in a very difficult game, and it’s pleasing to keep our unbeaten record.”