Kick-off time changed for Hartlepool United's long trip to Boreham Wood
Hartlepool United's long trip to Boreham Wood has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 11, with the kick-off time now moved forward to 12:30pm.
The kick-off time has now been rescheduled twice, with the traditional 3pm start initially moved to 5:30pm after the clash was selected for featured coverage on DAZN, the National League's broadcaster.
The decision has been criticised by many Pools fans, with travelling supporters likely to have to set off in the early hours to stand any chance of making it to Hertfordshire in time for kick-off.
Although Nicky Featherstone's side appear to have no better than an outside chance of sneaking into the play-offs this season, the Wood are well-placed to finish in the top seven following a remarkable first season back in the National League.
Having been relegated to the National League South at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, popular manager Luke Garrard engineered an immediate return to the fifth tier and the Hertfordshire outfit have gone from strength to strength this season.
Aided by the goals of Matt Rush - the 25-year-old has scored 24 times in 41 matches this term - the guile of Zak Brunt, a former National League title winner with Barnet, and the tough-tackling of ex-Pools man Tom White, Boreham Wood find themselves in fourth having amassed an impressive 71 points from 38 games so far.
Barring a nightmarish slump to end the season, the Wood are all but guaranteed a play-off place and will surely have at least one eye on securing a home quarter final or even immediate progression to the semis; Garrard's side are just four points behind third placed Carlisle United, a truly remarkable achievement given the contrast between the two teams financial resources and fanbases.
Pools, meanwhile, will need a blistering end to the campaign to stand any realistic chance of finishing in the play-offs this term.
Just when Featherstone's side appeared to be building some momentum following an emphatic win over rivals Carlisle, back-to-back home defeats at the hands of Sutton United and Halifax Town, one of their direct rivals for a place in the top seven, stopped them in their tracks.
Pools have a winnable run of games on the horizon, welcoming strugglers Eastleigh this weekend before travelling to Morecambe, who are fourth from bottom despite an excellent run of results of late under Jim Bentley, and mid-table Wealdstone.
From there, however, Pools face a hugely challenging end to the season, taking on Scunthorpe United, Rochdale, Boreham Wood, Forest Green Rovers and Southend - all sides in the top eight - before ending the campaign at Boston United, who have been in fine form since the appointment of Paul Hurst.