Hartlepool United ‘heading in the right direction’ - insists goalscorer Brooklyn Ilunga
Hartlepool United were denied by a late equaliser in Saturday’s home draw with National League rivals Wealdstone.
Brooklyn Ilunga has insisted Hartlepool United are ‘moving in the right direction’ conceding a late equaliser in their home draw with National League rivals Wealdstone.
Pete Wild’s side returned to league action for the first time in a fortnight as they hosted the Stones at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon - and for the large part of the game they looked to be providing the home faithful with a positive result and performance that could and should have lifted them as high as sixteenth place in the table.
After enjoying the lionshare of the goalscoring opportunities during the first-half without being able to find a breakthrough, Pools finally opened the scoring with ten minutes remaining when substitute Brooklyn Ilunga found the net with a powerful low drive. However, the Stones snatched a share of the points with 95 minutes on the clock when Joe Newton’s cross was diverted beyond Max Merrick by Pools defender Reiss McNally.
Despite that agonising late disappointment, goalscorer Ilunga delivered a positive assessment of Pools’ progression under Wild.
He told BBC Radio Tees: “Obviously it’s frustrating - but the thing for us now is to just roll up our sleeves and go again next week. Everything has been tactical, there’s been a lot more communication, all of us know and understand our roles on the pitch. It’s easier for us, it’s been better. [We were] unfortunate not to get all three points but you could see what we’ve worked on what we want to do on the pitch and our game-plan. It’s frustrating to concede in the last minute but you can see we are moving in the right direction.”
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The former Bromley winger also reflected on his first National League goal and admitted he knew he was going for goal as soon as the ball fell to his feet.
He said: “It’s special, in front of all of the fans as well, unreal,” he explained. “As soon as I touched it, my eyes lit up, I knew what I was going to do. I’m grateful I scored. It feels great, it’s up to me to keep them coming and help the team win.”
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