Dave Challinor reflects on Hartlepool United going top of the National League and why he's not getting carried away

Pools moved a point clear of Sutton United with the 2-0 win on Saturday teatime, however Sutton have four games in hand over Challinor’s side.

Challinor was delighted to see his Pools side move top but knows it only really matters when the season comes to a close.

And Pools have a busy few weeks ahead as they battle for promotion back to the Football League.

Challinor said: “We spoke about it last game at Boreham Wood where we could have potentially gone top.

"We’ve given ourselves the opportunity to go top this weekend and taken it.

"I’m sure for Hartlepool fans, the table will look great but I’d much prefer to be a month later.

"That’s not the case and we’ve got seven games left so we’ll try and win those seven and see where it takes us. It’s no easy feat but we’re in a good space and on a good run which we’ll be looking to continue for as long as possible.

“Being top of the table today was only going to be as a consequence of our performance.

"Anything less than a win and we wouldn’t have been top so we knew we had to perform and we did that really, really well.

"At half-time, leading 1-0, we’re sat top of the pile and go into that second half knowing that if we don’t concede that’s where we’ll stay. We are where we are and it’s a great place to be but it’s out of our hands.

"Regardless of what we do, we could win every game between now and the end of the season but if other teams take care of their business we can’t do anything about that.”

Goals from Gavan Holohan and Bennett at the end of either half helped Pools to a 2-0 win over rivals Notts County in front of the BT Sport cameras on Saturday evening as they went top of the National League table.

It’s the first time the side have been top of the table since the opening weeks of the season.

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