Goals, defending and a lesson in perspective – analysis of Hartlepool United's 3-1 win at Yeovil Town in the National League

Going into Saturday’s visit to Yeovil Town, there was a sense of doom and gloom threatening to engulf Hartlepool United on the back of three straight defeats without scoring.

It was uncharted territory for manager Dave Challinor, who had previously never lost consecutive games since taking charge last November.

The pressure was on and a Pools required a response to get their season back on track as they faced a Yeovil side bottom of the table without a win in their opening eight games.

United could perhaps take some solace in the fact that their previous two visits to Huish Park last season saw them score six goals.

The side were without Luke Williams or Mason Bloomfield following recent injuries, giving Challinor a choice between David Parkhouse or Rhys Oates to lead the line in Somerset.

Parkhouse was the last player to score a goal for Pools while Oates’ contributions prior to the match had been limited with no goals or assists to his name having regularly been restricted to the role of impact substitute.

But it was Oates who got the nod as the only change from Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat to Wrexham.

On the bench, 17-year-old Joe Grey returned while Josh MacDonald was left out once again despite making the long journey down south.

With less than two minutes on the clock, Pools countered brilliantly from some early Yeovil pressure with Oates finding space and dinking a fine ball across the face of goal for Luke Molyneux to volley in from close range.

After going over 400 minutes without finding the back of the net prior to the game, it was just the start Pools were looking for.

The visitors continued their bright start but couldn’t capitalise with the impressive Oates twice coming close.

The 25-year-old was given the difficult task of leading the line on his own at Huish Park, just as he did at Salford City in the FA Cup two weeks prior. While he didn’t get on the scoresheet, his tenacity, pressure and hold-up play helped bring the best out of Pools’ attack in the first half.

As half-time approached, top scorer Gavan Holohan collected the ball inside the area to deservedly double Hartlepool’s advantage with his fourth of the campaign.

New signing Tyler Magloire, a defender by trade, then demonstrated clinical striker’s instincts to collect David Ferguson’s miss-hit shot, turn, and roll the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 3-0.

At this point, Challinor’s men were cruising and were good value for their comfortable lead, it was chalk and cheese compared to what we’d been served up over the past couple of weeks.

But Yeovil would ensure that the visitors would be kept on their toes in the second half as Joe Quigley prodded home to make it 3-1 just before the break.

As dominant and dynamic as Pools were in the first half, the second period was a different story entirely as The Glovers pushed for a way back into the game, changing their system to a more direct attacking approach.

The questions that had been asked of Pools going forward had been answered in the first half, now it was the defence’s turn.

The young back five of Magloire, David Ferguson, Ryan Johnson, Lewis Cass and Henrich Ravas had played just one National League game together ahead of the trip to Huish Park. It certainly didn’t seem that way based on their second-half display.

Credit must go to Yeovil for giving it a right good go and piling the pressure on Pools but simply nothing could get past. As much as the home side enjoyed the majority of possession in and around Hartlepool’s penalty area, the fact Ravas barely had a save to make is a testament to the defensive efforts of those in front of him.

A fourth goal for Pools would have put the game to bed and Holohan came within inches of doing that with what seemed like the visitors’ only real opportunity of the second half.

Fortunately, the three first-half goals were enough for Hartlepool as they got back to winning ways and climbed back into the play-off places with games in hand on teams around them.

It also continued Pools’ perfect start to the league season on the road with three away wins from three – the first time in the club’s history that they’ve won their opening three away matches in the league.

This past week has perhaps highlighted the fickle and overreactive nature of football. We’re all guilty – some more than others – of getting too down or too critical following a poor result, just as we are in getting too carried away with a positive one.

At Pools, it’s a vicious cycle of being given hope only to be let down time and time again – so any frustration is understandable.

And without supporters in grounds, social media has almost become the main outlet for people to display their passion or frustration on a matchday. It’s the lockdown equivalent of boos ringing around Victoria Park following a disappointing defeat.

But Saturday’s result at Yeovil helps put things into perspective. This isn’t going to be an easy season for Hartlepool but they’re currently sitting in the play-off places and a win on Tuesday night could see them move level on points with second.

Consistency will ultimately decide whether this season is a positive one or not for Pools. They’re still searching for that, but there is still plenty to be positive about moving forward.

After a tough period, one victory is never going to turn everything around completely, but it has certainly helped.

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