Dominic Scurr's Sutton United verdict: Hartlepool United remain a ray of light during this dark period – don't let the National League extinguish it

It’s a quote that has often been attributed to Dave Challinor during his tenure as Hartlepool United manager – Saturday’s 1-0 win over Sutton United being the most recent.

Pools went into the game in good form despite losing 1-0 at a struggling Weymouth side last weekend. They sat third in the National League table and had won five of their last seven league matches.

But against second placed Sutton, they faced a stern test of their play-off credentials. Was the positive run over Christmas just a bit of good fortune or are Pools genuine contenders this season?

Based on what we saw at Victoria Park on Saturday, it’s starting to look like the latter as Rhys Oates’ second half header proved to be the difference.

Bouncebackability

Dave Challinor named an unchanged side from last weekend’s defeat and certainly got the reaction he was looking for.

For the most part, Sutton and Pools cancelled each other out with clear cut chances few and far between. A classically cagey top of the table affair was unfolding as the sides went in 0-0 at half-time.

But it was Sutton who came out stronger after the restart with David Ajiboye getting the better of Pools’ David Ferguson early on. The winger’s cut-back to Harry Beautyman saw Sutton get a shot away but Timi Odusina was there to get in a fine block before Ben Killip claimed the ball.

From that, Pools broke away quickly and earned themselves a corner against the run of play. Nicky Featherstone delivered and Oates popped up to glance the ball into the right side of the goal – his fourth goal in as many matches at Victoria Park.

After taking the lead, Hartlepool looked the more likely side to grab the second goal. Oates and the perpetually lively Luke Armstrong both came close to doubling their advantage.

At the other end, Beautyman headed a golden chance wide of the right post. An effort so close to finding the net, U's manager Matt Gray mistakenly celebrated it.

But Pools' young defensive line remained strong and with a no-nonsense display to keep a dangerous Sutton side at bay throughout. Timi Odusina and Ryan Johnson dealt with almost everything that came their way with Lewis Cass slotting seamlessly into a more central role.

The only downside of an otherwise great afternoon for Hartlepool was Gavan Holohan’s yellow card which will see him suspended for the next league match.

"I didn’t even touch him!” The exasperated Pools midfielder shouted at referee Martin Woods as the yellow card was brandished.

Still, Hartlepool were able to hold on and secure a fifth straight win at Victoria Park for the first time since 2007.

Competing at the top

Back in November, when Pools were going through a poor run of form and sitting mid-table, Challinor remained calm despite growing pressure and said: "We won't get a true reflection of where we stand until around January.

"We've got a tough run of games coming up but it's a really good opportunity where by January we could be saying we've had a great run and be right up near the top."

Now at the end of January, Pools are sitting second in the table having beaten well-fancied opposition such as Stockport, Notts County, Halifax Town, and Sutton.

Challinor’s side seem to have a knack of being able to perform against the top sides in the division, with the exception of leaders Torquay United.

From the teams directly below them in the table – Sutton, Stockport, Notts County and Maidenhead United – Pools have beaten all four, scoring 10 and conceding none.

Hartlepool’s first ever victory over Sutton in seven attempts was the type of game many would argue they would have struggled to win previously. When games are tight and Pools are under pressure, they have been vulnerable to crumbling or letting themselves down – but not anymore.

Under Challinor, they have developed a resilience and a grittiness about them that hasn’t been there previously. The same thing was said following the Notts County win back in December, when Pools win like this, it’s not just a one off slice of luck anymore.

They have that National League nous required to be successful in the division, now they can only hope they get the chance to expand on that during the second half of the campaign.

Uncertainty

The 2020-21 season remains up in the air due to the current crisis regarding DCMS funding. Clubs are set to vote on how to continue with the season on Monday with many National League North and South clubs lobbying for the campaign to be shut down.

There’s a feeling at Pools that their National League season will continue as they hope. But a ‘feeling’ doesn’t mean an awful lot at this stage as we wait and see how things actually unfold.

For Hartlepool both as a football club and a town, it’s crucial that the season continues with the appropriate financial and testing support in place.

We’re living through a period where going to the supermarket or for a walk can be the highlight of our day. But for many, watching Hartlepool United, even on a live stream, is the highlight of our week.

As painful as it is not to have supporters at the ground for what is proving to be Pools’ most successful season in 14 years, there is still a sense of hope and positivity surrounding a club that has had so little of it in recent years.

To dash all of that due to negligence and at great expense to the public would be a scandal that won’t be soon forgotten, particularly by those on the County Durham coast.

Challinor’s side are a ray of light during this dark time – we can only hope that it doesn’t go out.

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