182: Making history

The referee looked at his watch, then blew the whistle for the end of the first half.

The players walked towards the tunnel, the Hartlepool United players' faces beaming with confident smiles.

The atmosphere in the locker room was relaxed and focused.

Old John was marking a few key points on the tactics board that needed attention in the second half, but the overall tactics didn't require major adjustments.

"Keep up this state."

Lin Feng's instructions were concise and clear.

"Walsall will strengthen their attack in the second half, we need to be prepared for defensive counter-attacks."

"Continue to enjoy the game, and victory will come naturally."

This sentence completely relaxed the players.

They were indeed enjoying football; this pure joy was their greatest weapon.

After the second half began, Walsall indeed strengthened their attack.

Their head coach had clearly made targeted adjustments during halftime, and their pressing in the front field was more aggressive.

But Hartlepool United's midfield control was too strong.

The midfield iron triangle formed by Henderson, Sigurdsson, and Tinkler firmly controlled the initiative of the game.

Walsall's attacks seemed harmless in front of Hartlepool United's powerful midfield control.

Their passes were often intercepted in midfield, making it difficult to form effective offensives.

In the 58th minute, Hartlepool United got an excellent counter-attacking opportunity.

Tinkler, after winning the ball in midfield, quickly passed it to Henderson.

The England midfielder didn't stop the ball, directly sending a long pass to Vardy in the front field.

Vardy received the ball with his back to the goal, shielding it with his body, waiting for support from his teammates.

Maloney surged forward from the left wing, and Vardy timely passed the ball to him.

The Ireland winger cut inside with the ball, attracting the attention of two defenders.

Just then, Vardy suddenly burst forward, using his speed advantage to shake off the defense.

Maloney understood perfectly, delivering a through ball that pierced Walsall's defense.

Vardy, after receiving the ball, calmly slotted it into the far corner past the advancing goalkeeper.

The ball grazed the post and nestled into the net!

"Vardy scores his second!"

The commentator's voice erupted again.

"In the 69th minute, Henderson delivered a precise long pass from midfield, and Vardy used his speed to score his second! Two-nil!"

This goal completely killed the suspense of the match.

Vardy ran towards the away stand, celebrating with the frenzied Hartlepool fans.

His teammates also ran over to congratulate him; this team cohesion was moving.

Lin Feng finally showed a smile on the sidelines.

The victory in this match was no longer in doubt, and the record of fourteen consecutive wins was about to be secured.

Walsall's players were clearly very disheartened.

Their head coach shouted loudly on the sidelines, trying to reorganize the attack, but the players' morale had already plummeted.

As the game entered the final twenty minutes, Hartlepool United consciously began to control the tempo.

They were not in a hurry to extend their lead, but rather consumed time through passing.

This mature game reading ability made even the commentators praise them.

"Hartlepool United has shown the qualities expected of a champion team."

"They know when to attack and when to control; this kind of game intelligence is very rare."

In the 85th minute, Walsall finally pulled a goal back.

They capitalized on a corner kick opportunity, with their center-back scoring a header, changing the score to 2-1.

This goal reignited hope for the home fans, and they began to cheer loudly for their team.

But time was running out, and it was almost impossible for Walsall to equalize.

Hartlepool United's players did not panic because of the conceded goal; they continued to execute their predetermined tactics.

The referee looked at his watch, then raised both hands.

Four minutes of stoppage time.

These four minutes were the last chance for Walsall, and for Hartlepool United, it was the final stretch towards history.

Walsall launched a final desperate attack.

They pushed almost all their players forward, trying to create a miracle.

But Hartlepool United's defense was very solid, with Shawcross and Nelson performing impeccably in the backline.

Schmeichel also ensured the safety of the goal with several crucial saves.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Walsall earned a free-kick opportunity in the attacking third.

This was their last hope.

But the free-kick flew directly over the crossbar, and the home fans let out a sigh of disappointment.

The referee looked at his watch again.

Time was up.

He put the whistle to his lips and took a deep breath.

The whistle blew!

The match ended!

Two to one!

Hartlepool United defeated Walsall away, securing fourteen consecutive League wins!

A new historical record was thus born!

The away stand immediately erupted in thunderous cheers.

Hartlepool fans wildly celebrated this historic moment.

The players and coaching staff rushed onto the field like mad, embracing each other.

Vardy was tossed high by his teammates; he was the undisputed hero of the day.

Henderson tightly embraced Sigurdsson, tears of excitement glistening in both their eyes.

Schmeichel took off his gloves, looking up at the sky and roaring, releasing his inner ecstasy.

Old John was surrounded by the players, the old coach's face filled with pride and satisfaction.

"History has been made!"

The commentator's voice was already a little hoarse.

"Hartlepool United has set a new record of 14 consecutive wins in the England third-tier League!"

"This is an amazing achievement; this team has proven what a miracle is with their actions!"

Lin Feng stood at the edge of the technical area, quietly watching it all.

There was no excessive excitement on his face, but his eyes sparkled with deep satisfaction.

The significance of this record was not just in the number itself, but more importantly, in what it represented: the team's transformation and growth.

From a team on the verge of relegation to a record-setter, every step in this process was full of challenges and opportunities.

The players began to walk towards the away stand, sharing this historic moment with the fans who had traveled so far.

Hartlepool fans waved scarves and flags, and songs echoed throughout the stadium.

"We are the champions!"

This classic song reverberated over Bescot Stadium.

Although they hadn't truly won the championship yet, at this moment, they were indeed the champions of history.

Media reporters had already swarmed to the sidelines, preparing for post-match interviews.

The news value of this match was immense, and all major media outlets wanted first-hand information.

Lin Feng's phone vibrated at this moment.

He took out his phone and saw a new text message.

The sender was still the familiar "K. K."

"Congratulations, creator of history. Now, shouldn't you shift your gaze away from the milestone?"

Lin Feng looked at the text message, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.

Keira Knightley had clearly watched the match live; her message came at just the right time.

Indeed, a record is just a milestone; the real challenges still lie ahead.

He put away his phone and walked towards the celebrating players.

This night belonged to them, to everyone who supported Hartlepool United.

But tomorrow, new challenges would arrive.

Fourteen consecutive wins were just the beginning; their goal was to create a number that would make future generations despair.

More importantly, they wanted to truly lift the championship trophy at the end of this season.