‘It was horrific’ – Dave Challinor discusses his weather forecast fears in build-up to Hartlepool United's 2-0 win over Notts County

High winds, rain and now snow have wreaked havoc with Pools’ training schedule. They also had a match postponed at Solihull Moors due to the Storm Dennis hitting the West Midlands.

But against Notts County on Saturday, the weather actually aided Dave Challinor’s side as two crosses from Nicky Featherstone found their way into the back of the net.

The first goal saw the wind get under the ball as Magpies goalkeeper Joe McDonnell misjudged Featherstone’s high ball into the penalty area. Just over 10-minutes later, Featherstone’s low free-kick delivery missed everyone and found its way into the bottom right corner to make it 2-0.

“We got that bit of luck with the elements but aside from that, we played some really good stuff,” Challinor said.

“The first goal is probably what we deserved after the first half but the second goal is just a brilliant delivery.

“We showed a real intent from minute one and although the conditions were tough, I probably would have taken it before the game because they weren’t as tough as we potentially thought it would be.

“We came [to Victoria Park] on Friday afternoon because we were expecting a similar forecast and it was horrific. It wasn’t as bad and didn’t affect the game as badly as I thought it would.

“The pleasing thing for me is that we were really composed with how we managed the game and even at 2-0 we remained a threat and looked like the ones who were going to get the next goal.

“I thought we played really well today – in terms of what we’d done during the week and the gameplan we’d set out, we did want to play and we forced a good team to change and credit to the players for that.

“It was a really complete performance which sets us up massively for what are effectively play-off games.”

With 11 games remaining, Pools sit 11th and just one point off a play-off place.

Their next two matches see them visit third-placed Boreham Wood and eighth-placed Solihull Moors.