Hartlepool United goalscorer Nathan Sheron delighted with "professional performance" in comfortable Eastleigh victory
Hartlepool United midfielder Nathan Sheron was delighted with a "professional performance" as Pools beat out of sorts Eastleigh to extend their unbeaten run to six National League matches.
The indefatigable 28-year-old scored his second goal of the season, firing home a superb strike from range with his weaker left foot to make it 2-0 after 53 minutes as Pools kept pace in the race for the play-offs.
While, in general, performances have been more battling than brilliant under interim manager Nicky Featherstone, who has taken charge of the last seven games since the sacking of Simon Grayson in October, Pools showed just how good a side they have the potential to be with an outstanding showing in Hampshire.
Almost from the minute referee James Oldham blew his whistle for the first time on a wet and blustery afternoon at the Silverlake Stadium, Pools were in complete control of the game as they produced arguably their most impressive display of an up and down campaign.
Sheron, who has started all 22 games this term following an impressive debut campaign in the North East last season, was once again at the heart of much of what his side did well, capping his typically spirited showing with a rare goal as Pools won away at Eastleigh for the first time ever.
Having revived their faltering play-off hopes thanks to a significant improvement in both results and performances under Featherstone, who remains among the favourites to be named the next permanent manager, there appears to be a real belief that Pools can still go on and achieve something special this season ahead of next weekend's visit of John Askey's Truro, who have lost eight and drawn two of their 10 away games so far this term.
"We're buzzing," Sheron told The Red Radio.
"I think it was a really professional performance, Feaths (Featherstone) has set us up with a game plan and I think we've executed it perfectly.
"Winning games of football breeds confidence. As a whole, we were disappointed with the last few weeks, so to bounce back and produce a few good performances - even then, we have dropped points where we could maybe have won as well - has been massive. If we can keep winning games, then happy days.
"For the goal, I've given the ball to Adam (Campbell) and he's given it back, I've seen the defence drop off and I've thought 'oh, I've got no one to pass it to, I've got to shoot'.
"I'm buzzing, scoring goals is something I want to add more to my game."