Hartlepool United star heeded half-time warning during Truro City win

Gary Liddle has revealed the half-time message he delivered to Hartlepool United defender Cameron John has he walked a disciplinary tightrope in Saturday’s narrow win at National League rivals Truro City.

The on-loan York City full-back has already received one red card this season after being given his marching orders during the first-half of a 4-0 defeat against Woking in January and there were fears he could meet a similar fate in Saturday’s game at Truro. John received a yellow card inside the opening ten minutes for a foul on Dominic Johnson-Fisher and the home faithful were pleading for a second caution on a number of occasions during the remainder of the opening 45 minutes.

Despite the presence of Calvin Okike on the substitutes bench, manager Nicky Featherstone and Liddle opted to retain faith with John - but only after he was given a cautionary message from the Pools assistant during the break.

He told the club website: “Lucky or not? I don’t know. He obviously got an early yellow card, he got a foul just after that and to be fair, it was mentioned. We told him at half-time he needs to be on his best conduct and it was one of those. Calvin was ready and willing to come on if it was needed and I said to Cam it could be one of those where he has to take one for the team. But he is an experienced lad, he managed himself well, he probably didn’t get as close to their winger in the second half as he would have liked. But he was part of a strong back four today and a goalkeeper that made a good save as well.”

Really proud

Liddle was forced into a slightly different role on the touchline as Pools boss Nicky Featherstone watched on from the stands due to a suspension he received after being shown a red card following last weekend’s home defeat against FC Halifax Town. Taking the lead role in the dugout was nothing new for Liddle after his spell in charge of Northern Premier League club Whitby Town - but the Pools number two did admit there was pride in taking on the role on a temporary basis with a club he has become synonymous with throughout his playing and coaching career.

He said: “It was good. I haven’t long come away from management to be fair and it wasn’t too dissimilar to what I am used to and I was at the forefront of the touchline at Whitby. To come here and under certain circumstances be at the forefront of the dugout for Hartlepool United today was a massive pleasure for me. To come to the club at 19 or 20-year-old as a player and to come full circle and be at the front of the dugout, leading the team out, it’s a massive, massive pleasure, a really proud moment for me and I’m pleased that it’s ended with a one-nil win.”

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