Hartlepool United players and fans react to 3-1 Boxing Day win over Halifax Town as side move up to third in the National League

Goals from Ryan Johnson, Rhys Oates and Mason Bloomfield cancelled out Billy Chadwick’s early equaliser for Halifax Town, who were reduced to 10-men in the second half.

The win took Pools up to third in the National League table as the only side in the top half to have won their last two league matches.

Afterwards, players and fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the game – here’s what some of them said…

Goalscorer Oates said after netting his first two goals of the season in the last two matches: “6 points and 2 goals! Been a great Christmas, now to recover and go again Monday.”

Midfield Gavan Holohan commented: “Wasn’t pretty but another 3 points, big one again Monday. Keep on rolling.”

The opening 15-minutes of the match saw fans encounter serious issues with the club’s live streaming service provider, meaning many missed the opening two goals.

Billy Shackleton said: “Fantastic result. But don’t let it be forgotten about how [poor] our stream provider is! £325 to only watch 70 minutes of the match and even less of others!

Paul Jackson added: “It is a club problem, you chose the service provider, your fans are paying for it.”

On the match itself, Paul Keay tweeted: “Great win, just keep plugging away. Great Xmas present.”

@danielhufc said: “The lads look like they’re enjoying their football and look more confident every game. Onwards and upwards.”

@mainsley23 commented: “It was really scrappy, the wind didn’t help, but the two goals I saw were excellent.”

Jordan Richardson responded to the result: “Good teams grind out results without playing particularly well. Pools did that today, really pleased!”

@_wrighty4 wasn’t getting carried away: “We do still need to improve but look a lot more dangerous going forward and we seem to be more confident in front of goal. Defending better too, though I still think Magloire, Timi and Johnson need to improve still.”

Anthony Harrison tweeted: “Confidence is all it is and it’s finally starting to build come on! Rhys Oates unplayable at times, so direct, top class and Jamie Sterry, calm and collected all game. Well played lads.”

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