Hartlepool United 3 Bromley 2 RECAP: Rhys Oates on fire as Pools set up Stockport County semi-final
Pools host Bromley (2:30pm kick-off) in front of around 1,700 fans for the play-off eliminator round match. The game will be decided on the day, via extra-time and penalties if necessary, with the losing side’s season coming to an end.
And after waiting all season for fans to return to Victoria Park, Hartlepool will now experience back to back matches in front of their supporters in little over a week.
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Hide AdBut unlike last Saturday’s 4-0 win over Weymouth, the pressure is on Pools to deliver and not slip up against Bromley.
Pools boss Dave Challinor has admitted that nerves are natural going into these big games but he hopes the crowd will be able to carry on the support they displayed last time out.
Dom Scurr is at The Vic for the Mail and we will bring you unrivalled coverage throughout the day.
Hartlepool United 3 (Oates, 17, 24, Armstrong 20) Bromley 2 (Alabi, 48) LIVE: Action and analysis from Victoria Park
Key Events
- Pools: James; Ferguson, Johnson, Liddle, Odusina, Sterry; Featherstone, Shelton, Holohan; Oates, Armstrong
- Subs: Ravas, Donaldson, Saunders, Elliott, Francis-Angol
- Lewis Cass misses out with a hamstring injury but Luke Armstrong is back in the starting line-up
The players are out and KO is moments away
The Vic is bouncing this afternoon, both sets of players are out and the game will kick-off shortly.
Excellent atmosphere inside The Vic ahead of KO. Pools and Bromley are 90 minutes away from the semi-finals and a trip to Stockport County.
The team news is in!
Are you happy with the Pools team then? Armstrong does start, Cass misses out.
James; Ferguson, Johnson, Liddle, Odusina, Sterry; Featherstone, Shelton, Holohan; Oates, Armstrong
Subs: Ravas, Donaldson, Saunders, Elliott, Francis-Angol
The experienced campaigner is targeting success with Pools
“This is why we want to be in football. We don’t want to be fighting relegation.
That’s Hartlepool United midfielder Nicky Featherstone’s take on the club’s upcoming play-off match against Bromley at Victoria Park this Sunday (2:30pm kick-off).
The 32-year-old midfielder has experienced struggle and turmoil for the majority of his 291 games for the club over the past seven years.
But this season has been different as Pools have mounted their first serious promotion challenge in 14 years under Dave Challinor.
It’s Featherstone’s first play-off campaign as a player and one he can’t wait to get started with.
View from the opposition camp
Bromley are ‘fully focused’ on Sunday’s play-off eliminator match at Hartlepool United (2:30pm kick-off), according to Roger Johnson
The former Premier League defender made 64 appearances for Bromley over two seasons before returning to the club’s coaching set-up as under-23s manager in 2020.
Under the new management of Andy Woodman, The Ravens have had a remarkable run which included wins over Hartlepool, Chesterfield and Notts County and away draws at Stockport and Torquay.
They snatched the final play-off place on the last day of the regular season as a result and Johnson admitted that belief is high as they look to earn promotion to the Football League for the first time.
“Our season is not finished,” the former Birmingham City centre-back told the club website. “The record we’ve had, eight wins, four draws, one loss, what an achievement and we deserve [the play-off place].
“We’re fully focused and we’ll be back straight on the pitch again. It’s mission Hartlepool and I back us massively.”