Hartlepool United goalkeeper George Evans hoping Pools can maintain hard-won momentum ahead of Wealdstone clash
Hartlepool United goalkeeper George Evans is hoping his side can maintain their recent hard-won momentum when they host in-form Wealdstone this weekend.
Evans, who has had an impressive start to life at Victoria Park after signing on loan from Millwall last month, saved a second half penalty from Will Harris as Pools beat play-off chasing Halifax 1-0 on Saturday, the young goalkeeper's second clean sheet in three matches.
Indeed, Pools also had Evans to thank earlier in the contest when he denied Harris one-on-one, while the 20-year-old produced a number of impressive catches, claims and punches as Halifax looked to bombard his box in a bid to get back into the game.
Some Pools fans were fearing the worst when their side lost impressive Hull loanee Harvey Cartwright, who kept a remarkable seven clean sheets in 13 appearances, to a serious injury during October's defeat to Carlisle that cut short his stint in the North East.
However, Pools moved quickly to sign Evans, who made a handful of Championship appearances at the back end of last season following an injury crisis in-between the sticks at the Den, ahead of the visit of rivals York. Much like Cartwright, who made his debut on the opening day of the campaign against Yeovil despite only having joined Pools in the week leading up to the game, Evans produced a man-of-the-match display on his first appearance even though he'd only trained with his new teammates once.
Since then, Evans has gone from strength to strength and it's testament to his impressive form that Pools have hardly missed Cartwright, something that must have been hard to imagine when he trudged off in Cumbria.
Indeed, there is a renewed sense of optimism at Victoria Park more generally following a run of four games unbeaten that's seen Pools close the gap between themselves and the National League play-off places to three points.
Next up for interim manager Nicky Featherstone, who hinted on Saturday that he did not know whether or not he'd be in charge again this weekend, is the visit of a Wealdstone side who have had a remarkable season so far under the charismatic Sam Cox.
Despite having one of the division's smallest budgets and beginning the campaign as among the favourites for relegation, the Stones will make the trip to Victoria Park eighth in the National League, unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions and just a point outside the play-off places.
Even so, Evans is confident that a combination of his side's much-improved recent form and the backing of the home fans - Pools were cheered on by almost 500 travelling supporters in West Yorkshire - will give his side the edge this weekend.
"Every game's different," he told the official Pools club website.
"Wealdstone are another good side and we know they're going to be competitive. Hopefully we can take this momentum, plus the fans at our place, and the combination should do us pretty well."