Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor reacts to going level on points at the top of the National League table following 1-0 win at Torquay United

Pools win over The Gulls plus Sutton United’s goalless draw against Wrexham sees all three sides sitting on 47 points.

Despite their defeat, Torquay remain top of the table on goal difference although second placed Sutton have two games in hand on them and three on Pools in third.

But for Challinor – whose side sat mid-table and 14 points behind Torquay just before Christmas – being within touching distance of the top of the National League comes as a great morale boost.

"We want to be up at the top of the table but if you’d ask if I’d rather be top of the league now or top of the league on the 28th May going into the last game then you’d rather it be the latter,” Challinor told The Mail.

“We were playing direct opponents who were above us in the table that we knew we could go level on points with and had some wrongs to right ourselves from the previous game against them.

"That was one way to do that and it gives the players that further belief that they’re a good side but they keep grounded, keep working hard and go into Altrincham on Tuesday looking to go and win.”

Saturday’s win was Hartlepool’s first away from Victoria Park in 2021.

They now travel to Altrincham knowing that another win on the road could potentially take them top of the National League.

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