Hartlepool United manager "buzzing" for Campbell Darcy after teenager scores first Pools goal against Anstey Nomads
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone revealed he was "buzzing" for Campbell Darcy after the teenager scored his first Pools goal at the weekend.
Even so, the new Pools boss admitted he was finding it difficult to grasp at any positives after his side were dumped out of the FA Trophy in humiliating fashion by Northern Premier League Division One Midlands side Anstey Nomads.
Pools fans must surely have felt that things couldn't get any worse than when their side were knocked-out of the FA Cup at the fourth qualifying round stage by Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit Gainsborough Trinity in October, Featherstone's first game in interim charge.
A lot has changed since then, most of it for the better - Pools set out on an impressive run of seven National League matches unbeaten, reenergising their faltering play-off push and landing Featherstone the manager's job until the end of the season.
So, even after their unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of a resurgent Yeovil last time out, supporters must have felt confident that Pools would have more than enough to ease past an Anstey side who ply their trade a level below Gainsborough and had never before reached the third round of the FA Trophy, let alone progressed to the fourth.
Yet Pools ended up on the wrong end of one of the worst results in their entire history as goals from skipper Jordan Annable and Zimbabwe-born striker Tendai Chitiza condemned them to another humbling cup exit.
Indeed, Pools have a woeful record in cup competitions since they were relegated back to the National League in 2023, losing seven of their eight matches - of those seven defeats, six have come at the hands of lower level opposition.
The 2021/22 season, when Pools reached both the fourth round of the FA Cup, setting up a trip to Premier League Crystal Palace, as well as the semi-finals of the Football League Trophy, must have felt like a very long time ago on Saturday and it's little wonder that Featherstone was in no mood to reflect on any positives from the game.
In truth, it's hard to find much to be pleased about from the wreckage of Saturday's match, although a first senior goal for Darcy will surely be fondly remembered by the youngster and his family.
The versatile 19-year-old was called back from a successful spell on loan at Northern Premier League Premier Division side Hebburn Town in the week and featured from the bench at the weekend as Pools tried to force their way back into the game.
While his strike in the fifth minute of six added proved too little, too late, Featherstone admitted he was delighted for Darcy after the youngster scored his first ever Pools goal.
"It's his first goal for the club," Featherstone told the official Pools website.
"There's not a lot I can take from that performance.
"I'm buzzing for Cam that he's got his first goal for the club, but besides that there's nothing I can take from that game.
"It was a really disappointing and, personally, a really embarrassing one for me."