FC Hartlepool hailed as 'one of the stronger sides' in Northern League's second tier
FC Hartlepool are looking for their first win of the Northern League season when they host Boldon CA on Saturday.
FC Hartlepool were ‘unfortunate’ to miss out on a historic promotion last season and rank amongst the strongest sides in Northern League Division Two - according to the manager looking to inflict a home defeat on Terry Hill’s men this weekend.
After collecting a point in last weekend’s season-opener at Darlington Town before sharing the points with Ryton and Crawcrook Albion in their first home game of the campaign in midweek, FC will return to Grayfields to entertain a much-changed Boldon CA squad on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors have made a positive start to their own season after securing maximum points from a home clash with Grangetown Boys Club and Wednesday night’s tough-looking trip to Sunderland RCA. The Boldon squad was boosted by the surprise arrivals of the likes of Dunston UTS stalwart Liam Thear and Whitley Bay forward Callum Larmouth during a summer of change and they have already set their sights on pushing towards the play-off places after only narrowly avoiding relegation into the Wearside League last season.
Joint-manager Chris Spence believes his squad is capable of continuing their promising start to the campaign - but he warned his players they face ‘another tough test’ against FC Hartlepool this weekend.
He told The Mail: “FC Hartlepool is always a very tough place to go. They’ve been one of the stronger sides in the league over the last few years and were unfortunate to narrowly miss out last season. We’ll be without one or two players, but we’ve built a squad now where anyone can come in and take that shirt, and we’ve got complete confidence in whoever gets the opportunity.
“To be honest, I don’t think there’s an easy game in this league. A lot of teams have strengthened over the summer, and I think this could be the most competitive Northern League Division Two has been for a long time. Our focus is just on ourselves, continuing to improve, and making sure we’re ready for another tough test on Saturday.”