Hartlepool United preparing for Blyth Spartans friendly rematch following 2-2 draw at Croft Park

But they’ll get the chance to put things right at Victoria Park next weekend with another friendly against Michael Nelson’s side planned.

This comes after Pools played out a 2-2 draw at Croft Park with Blyth’s Connor Thomson scoring either side of David Ferguson and David Parkhouse’s first-half efforts.

Rhys Oates missed the chance to clinch victory for Pools as he saw a second half penalty saved by Blyth goalkeeper Brendan Pearson.

"I'm disappointed, scoring goals can't come at the expense of conceding goals,” Challinor said.

“It’s not a case of us being expansive and leaving ourselves exposed at the other end.

"I'm disappointed with the goals but I'd rather it happen now than in two weeks time. We need to be better, they are poor goals we’ve conceded and it was a bit like that when I first came to the club when we had to score two and three goals just to get results.

"That can’t still be the case so we need to tighten up and it’s a little reminder to the players just what we expect of them.”

With Saturday’s friendly at Blyth being brought forward a week, Pools and Blyth both had next Saturday free. As a result, another friendly between the sides has been arranged for September 19.

“We’re going to play Blyth at The Vic next weekend," Challinor confirmed.

“We’re meeting on Tuesday to put plans in place for a test event in terms of the protocols.

"For ourselves on the pitch, it will be a chance for us to step up in terms of minutes but off the pitch, plan how things will be in terms of the guidelines that we need to follow.

“We want to try and do something at the Vic in terms of a trial run which wasn’t initially planned but with all the protocols in terms of the Covid stuff, we want a practice run before the opening day against Aldershot.”

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