I noticed this game on Sunday. With the rain still persisting, I didn’t think I’d get to many games this midweek. Easington’s game at Durham City last night was (as predicted) called off yesterday morning. There was one game in the north-east last night – Newcastle United U23s vs Middlesbrough U23s. However, that is a bit of a chew to get to on public transport, especially on a night game. This game today actually brought around a new ‘ground’ for me. Although I’ve walked past the pitch plenty of times, I’ve never seen a game at the Racecourse in Durham. To be honest, I expected it to be called off and I was surprised by how good the pitch looked. It was wet, but you wouldn’t have thought there had been much rain with the condition it was in. This was the first time I’ve ever watched Hartlepool’s under-18s in league action. I’ve seen them in the Youth Cup a few times and I’ve seen most of them play for the reserves, but I’ve never seen them in a league game. They normally play at Blackhall and that’s another ground/pitch I’ve never been to. As for Oldham, I have seen the senior team before. That was a few years ago when Hartlepool were in League One.

Oldham started brightly and they broke the deadlock within the opening 10 minutes. An inviting cross was met by their centre forward and his effort had the Hartlepool ‘keeper beaten.

The Latics had the ball in the net again in the 16th minute after a good move, but the assistant referee ruled it out for offside.

Number 11 failed to find the target with a good effort for the visitors with half an hour played, before Hartlepool’s Fox headed a deep cross narrowly wide from just six yards.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, Hartlepool pulled level. A teasing Harrison Webster cross beat the Oldham defence to find Josh Bayne at the back post, and his simple headed pulled Pools level.

Oldham applied quite a bit of pressure on Hartlepool in the opening exchanges of the second half, and they deservedly regained their lead in the 51st minute. With a deep cross picking him out, number 4 headed into the net from close-range.

And, only four minutes later, the visitors doubled their lead. Hartlepool failed to deal with a long throw, meaning it eventually dropped to number 9 who fired home.

Another long throw caused chaos in the Hartlepool penalty area on the hour mark, but this time, a fine save prevented Oldham’s number 9.

Despite Oldham looking the brighter, Hartlepool halved the deficit with 25 minutes to play. A perfectly weighted through ball played Josh Scott in, and he finished with confidence.

Oldham had a few chances to kill the game off with quarter of an hour to play, but all of their dangerous efforts failed to find the target.

And, the Latics would be made to pay as Hartlepool pulled level in the 79th minute. A clumsy challenge on Conner Rennison gave the referee no option but to point to the penalty spot. Rennison dusted himself down to take responsibility, and he sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to level the scoreline.

Despite both sides going in search of a winner, neither created any real chances and the points were shared.

Full-time: Hartlepool United U18s 3-3 Oldham Athletic U18s

Next up for me is probably a game on Saturday. Maybe Ashfield in Scotland.

Hartlepool United U18s: Young, Murphy, Bayne, Miller, Webster (Cooper, 60′), Rennison, Naylor, Willoughby (Jackson, 65′), Leonard (Boyle, 80’), Fox, Scott

Unused sub: Lawrence

Admission: Free

Programme: No

Attendance: 40