173: Record Night

The floodlights at Victoria Park illuminated the entire stadium as if it were daytime.

In the stands, over 20,000 fans waved scarves and banners emblazoned with the number “13.”

“Make history! Make history!”

Deafening shouts surged from all directions, and the entire stadium trembled in anticipation of the impending historic moment.

Lin Feng sat in the executive box, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest.

Alan Hansen’s comments on “Match of the Day” last night had undoubtedly added more fuel to the fire for this match.

“Lower League records are meaningless”—this quote had been made into a banner by Hartlepool fans and hung high in the South Stand.

Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler’s voice was impassioned as he introduced the background of the game.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Victoria Park!”

“Tonight, Hartlepool United will host Crewe at home, and they are just one victory away from equaling the English third-tier League record of 13 consecutive wins!”

“This is a night to make history, and the eyes of all England are focused here!”

In the player’s tunnel, the Hartlepool United players were lined up neatly.

Vardy kept jumping in place, trying to ease his inner tension.

Henderson clenched his fists, his gaze fixed intently forward.

Schmeichel, wearing his gloves, repeatedly made catching gestures.

Desire for history was etched on everyone’s face, but they were also under immense pressure.

“Gentlemen,” Captain Nelson turned to face his teammates, “Tonight, we are not fighting for a record.”

“We are fighting for each other, for this city, and for the badge on our chests.”

Old John stood at the front of the line, holding his tactics board.

He did not give any final tactical instructions but instead rewrote Lin Feng’s words on the board: “Records are meant to be broken, not to be burdened by.”

Seeing these words, the players’ tense nerves relaxed slightly.

The away team, Crewe, appeared relatively relaxed.

For them, there was no pressure tonight, but rather an abundance of opportunities.

If they could end Hartlepool United’s winning streak, it would be their greatest achievement of the season.

Head coach Dario Gradi told his players in the locker room: “Forget their reputation, forget their winning streak.”

“On the pitch, we are all equal.”

“Tonight, we will show all of England that the outcome of a football match is not decided on paper.”

Both teams’ players walked out of the tunnel, and a thunderous cheer erupted instantly.

Hartlepool United fans stood and applauded, their songs echoing through the sky.

“We are the champions, we are the champions...”

Crewe’s few hundred away fans were not to be outdone, vigorously waving their blue and white scarves.

Lin Feng looked down from the executive box window, and the atmosphere of the entire stadium made his heart beat a little faster.

This feeling of being in the spotlight was something he had never experienced before.

Sophie Green sat in the press box, her notebook already filled with dense writing.

She could feel the tension in the air, everyone waiting for the historic moment to arrive.

The referee blew the opening whistle.

The match officially began!

Hartlepool United kicked off first, Vardy passing the ball to Henderson behind him.

But surprisingly, Henderson’s first pass was a mistake, the ball rolling directly out of bounds.

A gasp went up from the stands.

This was not Henderson’s usual standard.

Immediately after, Sigurdsson’s cross also went astray, almost being intercepted by Crewe’s forward.

Lin Feng frowned in the executive box.

The players’ movements were noticeably stiff, and their passing accuracy was far from what it usually was.

The pressure of the record was affecting their performance.

The Crewe team keenly noticed this.

They began to intensify their pressing in the attacking third, trying to exploit Hartlepool United’s nervousness to create more opportunities.

In the 8th minute, Robson’s pass from the back again went awry.

The ball was intercepted by Crewe’s midfielder, who immediately launched a quick counter-attack.

Nicky Maynard received the pass and used his speed advantage to shake off Shawcross’s defense.

Schmeichel quickly rushed out, but Maynard poked the ball towards the goal before him.

The ball slowly rolled towards the goal line.

The entire stadium fell silent instantly, everyone holding their breath.

Just as the ball was about to cross the goal line, Nelson made a flying tackle, kicking the ball out for a goal kick.

“Oh my goodness! So close!”

Martin Tyler’s voice was trembling slightly.

“Hartlepool United almost conceded a goal right at the start!”

Lin Feng’s palms began to sweat.

He could see that the players were having problems with their form, but now he could only choose to believe they could adjust themselves.

In the 12th minute, crisis struck again.

Tinkler’s pass in midfield was intercepted, and Crewe launched another counter-attack.

This time, their coordination was even smoother.

Maynard, after receiving the ball on the left, did not choose to go it alone but passed the ball to a teammate following up in the middle.

Hartlepool United’s defense experienced a brief moment of chaos.

Shawcross and Nelson both moved in one direction, creating a gap in the center.

Crewe’s midfielder timely passed the ball to Maynard on the right.

Maynard, facing Walker’s defense, suddenly cut inside and shot from the edge of the box.

The ball curved in an arc, heading straight for the top right corner of the goal.

Schmeichel made a desperate save, but the ball still grazed the crossbar and flew into the net.

“Goal! Goal!”

A thunderous cheer erupted from the away stand.

“Nicky Maynard opens the scoring for Crewe!”

“0-1! Hartlepool United are trailing at home!”

Victoria Park instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Over 20,000 home fans watched this scene in disbelief.

No one expected that on such a crucial night, their team would concede first.

Lin Feng slowly stood up in the executive box.

His expression remained calm, but his clenched fists betrayed his inner tension.

The players on the field were even more in a panic.

Vardy kicked the turf forcefully, his face full of frustration.

Henderson held his head in his hands, deep self-reproach in his eyes.

Sigurdsson kept slapping his thigh, trying to calm himself down.

The pressure of the record had now become a mountain, suffocating everyone.

Crewe’s players, on the other hand, embraced each other excitedly.

They knew they had accomplished the most difficult part—scoring first.

Next, as long as they held onto this score, they could pull off a huge upset.

After the match restarted, Hartlepool United tried to intensify their attack.

But the players’ mentality had already been affected, and their passing and movement lacked their usual chemistry.

In the 18th minute, Vardy received a pass in the box, but his shot was clearly rushed, the ball flying high over the crossbar.

In the 25th minute, Snodgrass’s long-range shot was easily saved by the goalkeeper.

In the 32nd minute, Henderson’s pass again went awry, almost creating a second goal-scoring opportunity for the opponent.

The fans in the stands began to grow restless.

They clapped hard, trying to cheer on their team, but the effect was not obvious.

Sophie Green quickly recorded the progress of the match in the press box.

She could feel the tense atmosphere pervading the stadium; this pressure even spread to everyone in the stands.

In the 40th minute of the first half, Hartlepool United finally created a real chance.

Walker broke through on the right and crossed, and Vardy headed for goal in the box.

But the ball went just wide of the post, narrowly missing the equalizer.

Vardy knelt on the grass, covering his face with his hands.

This opportunity was too important for him, but he couldn’t seize it.

The referee blew the whistle for the end of the first half.

Hartlepool United walked into the locker room with a score of 0-1.

The players walked off the field disheartened, frustration etched on everyone’s face.

Lin Feng did not go downstairs immediately but quietly pondered in the executive box.

He knew this was the biggest test the team had faced this season.

It was not only a tactical test but also a psychological one.

How to remain calm under immense pressure, how to find a breakthrough in adversity—these were challenges every champion team must face.

In the locker room, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.

The players sat in their respective spots, no one speaking.

Old John looked at these young men, his heart a mix of emotions.

He knew that at this moment, any tactical adjustments were not the most important thing.

The most important thing was how to help the players regain their confidence.

He walked to the tactics board, did not draw any tactical diagrams, but instead wrote Lin Feng’s words: “Records are meant to be broken, not to be burdened by. Go play your own football.”

The players looked up, reading the words on the tactics board.

These words were like a flash of lightning, instantly striking their hearts.

Vardy was the first to stand up.

“The Captain is right, we are not fighting for a record.”

“We are fighting for each other.”

Henderson also stood up, his eyes becoming firm again.

“The mistakes in the first half were my responsibility, but in the second half, I will make up for it with my performance.”

Sigurdsson patted Henderson’s shoulder.

“We are a team, no one needs to bear the responsibility alone.”

Schmeichel walked among his teammates.

“Gentlemen, we have already created the miracle of 12 consecutive wins.”

“Tonight, we will prove that the miracle continues.”

The atmosphere in the locker room began to change.

Frustration and oppression were gradually replaced by determination and fighting spirit.

The players rediscovered that familiar feeling—to give their all for the badge on their chest, for their brothers beside them.

Old John watched this scene, a glimmer of relief in his eyes.

This was what Lin Feng had been cultivating all along—not just technical and tactical ability, but also the psychological resilience to face difficulties.

The second half was about to begin.

The players walked out of the locker room again, and everyone’s eyes had changed.

They had shed all their burdens, and confident smiles reappeared on their faces.

Lin Feng saw this scene from the executive box.