‘Bang on’ – Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor praises key referee decision that led to opening goal at Aldershot Town

Referee Elliott Swallow made a crucial decision to play advantage after Gavan Holohan was fouled on the edge of the penalty area, leading to Luke Armstrong’s opening goal for Pools.

"It was a good call that benefited us,” Challinor told The Mail. “I went from going 'how's that not a free...oh great decision!

"I think he may have seen our free-kick takers and thought, ‘I’ll let them carry on’. Thankfully Luke hit the target.

"The keeper will think he can do better but it was a decision that the referee got bang on and it resulted in us taking the lead.”

The referee still had a couple more important decisions to make in the closing stages as he awarded a penalty at either end, both of which were converted.

And Challinor had no complaints regarding Ryan Johnson’s handball that saw Aldershot pull a goal back from 12-yards.

“I think it’s a penalty and that’s the only disappointment from the game for me,” Challinor added. We didn’t become cocky as such but we were a bit overconfident after going 2-0 up.

"Johno had been great at feeding balls down that left side and into the channel but suddenly he gets a diagonal that’s short and he doesn’t get there. That was his first mistake in the whole game which resulted in him handballing it and it’s a cheap one but an easy one to give for me.”

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