Hartlepool United boss Pete Wild hails key quartet after Wealdstone draw

Hartlepool United manager Pete Wild has hailed a number of his players for their impressive individual performances in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Wealdstone.

Pools had looked destined for a vital three points at Victoria Park when substitute Brooklyn Ilunga put them ahead with around 10 minutes remaining, only for a bitterly cruel Reiss McNally own goal to snatch a point for the visitors in the dying stages of the contest.

But despite the disappointment of missing out on a first victory in three National League outings, Wild was still delighted with the manner in which several of his players equipped themselves over the course of a hard-fought contest.

At the back, Liam Gibson made a return to the starting XI as part of a defensive three alongside captain McNally and Max Kouogun, while in midfield, Jamie Miley produced a typically influential display and Cole Deeming turned in a Man of the Match performance.

Elsewhere, Jack Nolan stood out while operating as a right wing-back, and speaking to BBC Radio Tees after the final whistle, Wild expressed his satisfaction with the quartet. He said: “Gibbo did well today. I was really pleased. I thought he did well today, Gibbo, as did a lot of players.

“I think a lot of players had probably one of their better performances since I've been here. Miley and Deeming look strong, aggressive. They look like they're controlling the midfield. By far Jack Nolan's best performance for us today. So all of a sudden, all these players are starting to play better and look more aggressive and look sharper and look a threat, which can only be pleasing for us in the long haul.”

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Wild also reflected on the decision to introduce goal-scorer Ilunga into the action when he did, adding: “I just thought they [Wealdstone] were overloading us on the switch a little bit, and I wanted to try and be the aggressor. So we matched them up shape-wise and I thought it worked. I thought it got us more control. I thought it allowed us to press higher.

“And sometimes you put subs on for weeks on end and they don't work, and then the week they do, it's a nice surprise.”

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