Former Newcastle United and Arsenal coach praises Hartlepool United following 3-2 play-off win over Bromley

Pools raced into a 3-0 lead after just 24-minutes with two goals from Rhys Oates either side of a Luke Armstrong strike.

The Ravens’ blushes were spared somewhat in the second half as a James Alabi header and a deflected throw-in initially credited to Byron Webster in stoppage time saw the game finish 3-2 as Hartlepool progressed to the semi-final against Stockport County.

"We gave ourselves a mountain to climb really,” Woodman told the National League cameras following the match.

“It wasn’t us first half and that was the real disappointment for me.

"Everything we have been doing we didn’t do in the first half but you have to give a bit of respect to Hartlepool because they did a job on us like we have on other people.

"They’re a good team and it just wasn’t meant to be today and that’s just the business we’re in.

"We can’t rely on these second halves, as nice as they are, we’ve got to be a bit more solid and have a bit more play about us and we didn’t do that today which is credit to Hartlepool.

"[Our half-time changes] did make an impact but in fairness to Hartlepool they got a grip of the game a little bit and killed it off to knock the wind out of our sails which was a shame because if we got the second goal [earlier] it would have been a bit of a game but it wasn’t to be.”

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