Hartlepool United manager talks up side's National League play-off prospects after three successive wins propel Pools into contention
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone believes his side have given themselves "a real chance" of sneaking into the National League play-off places.
Pools came from two goals down to beat relegation-threatened Morecambe 3-2 on Wednesday night, closing the gap between themselves and the top seven to just two points.
Just weeks ago, Pools looked certain to spend another season in the fifth tier following back-to-back home defeats at the hands of strugglers Sutton United and Halifax Town, one of their direct rivals for a play-off place.
Yet Featherstone's side have hauled themselves back into promotion contention thanks to a run of three successive victories, the first time Pools have won three on the bounce since August.
Having edged past bottom club Truro City before getting the better of Eastleigh at the weekend, Pools made the trip to Lancashire looking to keep themselves within touching distance of the top seven.
With Halifax losing to promotion-chasing Carlisle United on Tuesday night and Southend United dropping points against in-form Woking 24 hours later - things could have been even better for Pools had Tom Hopper not salvaged a late equaliser for the Shrimpers - Featherstone's side had the chance to steal a march on their direct rivals.
Yet Wednesday's game also held huge significance for Morecambe, especially after Gateshead pulled off one of the surprise results of the season by beating title-chasing York City to leave the Lancashire side six points adrift of safety at the wrong end of the league table.
To make matters even more complication, Morecambe, who were pushed to the brink of footballing oblivion following ruinous financial mishandling by controversial former owner Jason Whittingham, were issued with a winding-up petition hours before the game due to what the club described as "a legacy debt incurred prior to the takeover by Panjab Warriors in August".
Wednesday's match, then, felt like one that both sides needed to win, while a point would not have done much for either team.
Having started the game well enough, Pools were punished for switching off and allowing experienced Welshman Gwion Edwards to fire the hosts into the lead after 23 minutes, blasting a venomous effort beyond goalkeeper Nick Hayes after the visitors had given the veteran winger far too much time and space on the edge of the box.
Yet Pools battled back and drew level through the impressive Charlie Caton in the 34th minute, with the Accrington Stanley loanee producing an instinctive finish after the outstretched leg of Harlee Dean had inadvertently diverted the ball into his path, his second goal in three games.
Having struck the post two minutes later, Pools found themselves behind again on the hour when the prolific Jack Nolan lashed home his 11th goal in 10 matches.
Just when their play-off hopes appeared to be slipping through their fingers, however, two goals in 11 minutes from Alex Reid turned the game on its head as Pools took the lead for the first time all evening.
There was still time for more drama and a truly remarkable goal line clearance when Cameron John, who had done brilliantly to set up Reid's second goal in the 87th minute, somehow managed to head Ben Tollitt's powerful strike over the crossbar; Featherstone said afterwards that it was one of the finest clearances he had ever seen.
Morecambe came close once again from the resulting corner but this time Jay Benn was on hand to throw himself in front of an effort as Pools held on to secure what might well prove to be a hugely valuable three points in the race for the National League play-off places.
While Southend, who are two points clear of Featherstone's side with a game in hand, still look to be in the driving seat, Pools have hauled themselves right back into contention while out of sorts Forest Green Rovers, who are just six points clear having played once more, now look to be increasingly within reach.
"Coming back from 1-0 down, coming back from 2-1 down, we showed our character," Featherstone told BBC Radio Tees Sport.
"At this stage of the season, it's about winning games of football and we've managed to do that in the last three games.
"We've found a way again tonight through moments of quality, there were a few things I didn't like but I thought it was a really top quality game to be fair.
"They (Morecambe) are in a false position for me, I said it when we played them down at our place; they've got a lot of quality in that dressing room, they shouldn't be where they are and they showed that tonight.
"Every game's difficult at this time of the season, everyone's fighting for different things.
"It was a mad, mad game with plenty of goals, plenty of entertainment and the goal line clearances at the end; we've had everything tonight.
"It (winning three times in a row) is important for this group, we've seen the result for Southend tonight so we've just given ourselves a glimmer of hope, haven't we?
"It's probably more than that after tonight, after the weekend and after how the results have gone; we've given ourselves a real chance, that's what it is.
"We've been screaming out for consistency for a long time now, I think the performances can be slightly better but, like I said, this stage of the season isn't so much about performances, it's about finding a way of winning games.
"We've won three games on the bounce playing three different styles of football; we've just found a way in the end.
"You'd hope this will give us a lot of confidence going into the Wealdstone game, it can't not - three wins on the bounce should be a massive, massive psychological boost, especially after coming from 1-0 down and then 2-1 down. That's the sign of a good team.
"It's really pleasing, hopefully that gives them a lift; they've got to go into the last seven games and just give it a go.
"For me, if we give it a go in the last seven games and just fall short, I can accept that; what I don't want to do is fall apart.
"They've shown to me that they're willing to have a real go and that they're up for it."
Owing to Southend's participation in the semi-finals of the FA Trophy - the Shrimpers travel to National League North side Southport, looking to book their place at Wembley, on Saturday - Pools have a weekend off before making the long trip to mid-table Wealdstone next Tuesday, looking to make it four wins in a row for the first time all season.