Hartlepool United handed another boost in National League play-off race after Halifax Town drop more points against Sutton United
Hartlepool United were handed another big boost in the race for the National League play-off places after Halifax Town were held by relegation-threatened Sutton United on Saturday.
Although the Shaymen climbed back into the top seven with a point in West Yorkshire, Adam Lakeland's side would surely have been hoping for more against the struggling Us.
Indeed, there are growing concerns that Halifax, who have finished in the play-offs in each of the last two campaigns, are beginning to run out of steam having failed to win any of their previous four games; in fact, Town have won just one of their last seven National League outings.
Sutton, who are languishing just three points and two places above the relegation zone, took the lead at the Shay through Lewis Simper's 12th minute effort but Halifax struck back thanks to Cody Johnson 20 minutes later. Town, who scored two late goals to salvage a point against title-chasing Rochdale in midweek, went ahead after 65 minutes when the in-form Will Harris scored his 21st goal of a prolific campaign - since missing a penalty against Pools in November, the 25-year-old has found the net 17 times in 21 matches - but Sutton drew level 19 minutes when Brandon Njoku fired home.
Halifax, who are in the midst of a difficult run of games that will see them take on Pools, Boreham Wood, Solihull Moors, Carlisle United and Scunthorpe United - all teams with promotion ambitions of their own - before the end of the month, are two points clear of Nicky Featherstone's side having played two games more.
Southend United, who still look to be in pole position to clinch the coveted seventh spot, dropped out of the play-off places having been in FA Trophy action over the weekend. The Shrimpers beat National League South side Horsham 2-1 on Saturday to book their place in the semi-finals, meaning their scheduled visit to Victoria Park on March 28 looks set to be rearranged.
The Essex outfit are a point clear of Pools - and a point behind Halifax - but the Shrimpers have three games in hand on Featherstone's side. Even so, Kevin Maher's team haven't been in the best form of late, losing three of their last five league matches, while Southend themselves face a testing run of fixtures that sees them visit third-placed Carlisle before travelling to Forest Green Rovers, who are fifth, and Rochdale, who are second, within the next three weeks.
Significantly, both the Shaymen and the Shrimpers are still to visit Victoria Park this season. Speaking after his side produced one of their best performances of the entire campaign to get one over on big-spending Carlisle in the week, Featherstone described the games as "massively important".
"Those games are massively important - especially at home," he said.
"They're really important games; I know we say every game is important, but especially those ones.
"If we're going to go above them, we're probably going to have to beat them. They're really good games to be a part of.
"How many seasons have we had where we're playing for nothing at the end of the season? It's no good.
"It's just nice to be in the mix and hopefully we can have a real go with 12 games to go now."
Pools entertain Sutton on Tuesday night before welcoming Halifax to Victoria Park at the weekend as they look to build on back-to-back victories that have moved them within striking distance of the play-off places.