Wearside League Cup

Hartlepool FC 3

Richmond Town 4

ADAM EMSON was the hat-trick hero as Richmond Town brushed aside the disappointment of losing to deflected own goal in the dying minutes at Redcar Athletic in midweek with victory last Saturday at Hartlepool FC in The Wearside League Cup.

Town made the perfect start, taking the lead in only the fourth minute. Top scorer Emson typically outpaced Hartlepool's defence before slotting the ball into the corner of the net.

Town goalkeeper Karl Latcham's superb double save prevented an equaliser minutes before Town's lead was doubled in the 19th minute. A superb move, starting with in-form Mike Layfield, whose pass with the outside of his boot gave Scott Ryan something to chase. Ryan then crossed for Emson, who brought the ball down, and played it across the box for Gary Hutchinson to poke home.

Hutchinson was soon back in the action, providing the pass for Emson to again out-pace the Pools defence and hit the target to make it 3-0.

Hartlepool hit back through Carl O'Sullivan, heading home from close range in the 35th minute. Three minutes later, Emson's second hat-trick of the season was complete, after again linking up with Hutchinson. Despite the home goalkeeper's best efforts, the shot had to much power and the three-goal lead was restored.

Hartlepool, however, halved the deficit minutes before the break; O'Sullivan again the scorer, this time looping a header past Latcham.

The hosts began to dominate from the restart and Joe Osborne scored their third headed goal of the game with 25 minutes still left to play.

Despite the home side's best efforts, Town, with undoubted new-found team spirit, held out for a very hard earned victory.

Town are back in cup action tomorrow when Wolviston come to Earls Orchard for a Monkwearmouth Cup quarter final tie. Kick off is at 1.30pm.