Hartlepool United’s Scott Fenwick admits to a “hard few months” after ending his barren spell against Salford City

Fenwick had gone 10 games without a goal in all competitions, with his last coming in Pools’ 2-1 win against Yeovil in September.

The forward converted a Rhys Oates cross on Tuesday night as Pools beat their non-league opponents to reach the third round.

“It has been hard personally over the last few months,” Fenwick said.

“I have been in and out and sometimes when I have come in, the squad has been stretched and I have been asked to do a different role to what I am used to.

“But as a footballer, I would rather be playing out there than not playing at all, so it was just nice to be back through the middle again and that I managed to get my head on the end of that cross.”

Pools’ attention now turns back to their League Two campaign when they face Plymouth, who currently sit in the automatic promotion places, on Saturday.

Fenwick hopes his side can kick on following their FA Cup win as well as taking positives from their last league game, a 4-0 defeat against Portsmouth.

“We can match teams. We matched Portsmouth for 30 minutes on Saturday and it’s just our heads dropped after the goal went in and they got that lucky own goal.”

Manager Ronnie Moore played Fenwick through the middle against Salford, the same position he was moved to in the second half at Fratton Park.

“We have created half chances when we did go two through the middle.

“We just need to get that belief back as a squad that we are good enough to compete with anyone that comes here.

“Hopefully, this win gives us that bit of confidence for us to kick on now.”

Pools beat Plymouth at The Vic in dramatic fashion last season with Fenwick among the scorers in a 3-2 win.

Fenwick said: “It is another game that will come think and fast.

“We will rest up now, because that was a long night, but there is no easy games in this league.

“It doesn’t matter if Dagenham or Yeovil were here, or if it is Plymouth, there is no easy games and anyone can beat anyone in this league on their day, it is just how you turn up.

“The FA Cup has gone now, we forget about that until next year and we have got a couple of tasty ties coming up with Plymouth and Notts County on Boxing Day.”