Hartlepool United interim boss Nicky Featherstone delighted after Pools "found a way to win" against bottom side Truro City
Hartlepool United's interim manager Nicky Featherstone said his side "found a way to win" after Pools extended their unbeaten run to seven matches thanks to a 3-1 victory over bottom club Truro City.
While Saturday's showing was a far cry from last week's commanding win over Eastleigh, which Featherstone hailed as the best performance of his interim tenure, Pools did enough to record back-to-back victories for the first time since the end of August.
The visit of a Truro side who are managed by former Pools boss John Askey and who have now lost nine and drawn two of their 11 away games so far this season was as much about which team managed to cope with the challenging conditions - swirling winds, lashing rain and a sodden pitch - as anything else.
Whereas Pools passed Eastleigh off the park last week, Featherstone's side had to grit their teeth and dig their heels in against a Tinners outfit who, while they might have been short of quality in certain areas, were full of pluck, determination and fighting spirit.
The hosts dominated the first half and were good value for their lead when the in-form Adam Campbell, somewhat fortuitously, opened the scoring after 23 minutes with his third goal in five games.
Yet Truro, who are rooted to the bottom of the National League table having lost 15 of their 21 games so far this term, rallied after the break and drew level in the 58th minute after Pools allowed Aiden Marsh far too much space in the area to head home and end Millwall loanee George Evans' hopes of a fourth clean sheet in six appearances.
However Featherstone's decision to introduce both Grenadian international Jermaine Francis as well as Hull loanee Pharrell Brown from the bench four minutes later helped turn the game back in the home side's favour.
The pair both provided Pools with some much-needed pace and attacking intent, with Brown hitting the post from distance before Francis picked out Jamie Miley to restore his side's lead with a thunderous effort from range that gave the despairing Dan Lavercombe no chance as it rifled into the top corner with 16 minutes remaining.
From there, Truro never really looked like getting back into the game and Francis teed up Alex Reid in added time to put the result beyond doubt with his second goal in three matches.
With Southend, who have a game in hand on Pools, losing to Forest Green Rovers, Featherstone's side are now just two points outside the National League play-off places following a hugely impressive unbeaten run - four wins and three draws - under the 37-year-old.
The conversation will, of course, return to the now familiar topic of who is set to be named the next permanent Pools boss - Featherstone, who has been in temporary charge for seven weeks, is among the favourites alongside former Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson as well as Chris Beech, who made more than 100 appearances at Victoria Park as a player - ahead of next weekend's visit of Yeovil.
"Today's all about the result," the interim boss told The Red Radio.
"I thought the first half was pretty good in terms of performance, but then I thought there was a real drop-off for a 15, 20 minute period.
"They scored, we looked a bit unsettled and we struggled a bit with that setback.
"The subs, I thought, came on and changed the game again back in our favour.
"The performance wasn't everything today because of the conditions but the biggest thing for me was finding a way to win the game, and we have done in the end.
"If you look at last week (against Eastleigh), that was a more complete performance than this week.
"I don't think the conditions helped at all, but we found a way to win and that's what good teams do."