Mixed emotions for Myles Anderson on Hartlepool United return as last-gasp Dover Athletic equaliser denies clean sheet at victory

Anderson spent the last month on loan at National League rivals Aldershot Town with his return to Pools being well timed following injuries to defensive pair Fraser Kerr and Michael Raynes.

After coming off the bench in Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over Eastleigh, Anderson was thrust into the starting 11 for the trip to Dover.

A Kevin Lokko own goal handed Pools the lead and what looked to be the win before substitute Nassim L'Ghoul’s stoppage time equaliser.

Following the match, Anderson commented: “I’m absolutely gutted, disappointed, dejected and I think we deserved the win as well after coming in at half-time following a very complete first half performance.

“Even the gaffer acknowledged that and he even said it’s probably the best 45-minutes he’d seen from us since he’d been here. So I thought we had done enough but you never know in football and you’ve got to keep going until the end and it’s gutting.”

Saturday’s 1-1 draw was the first time Anderson had completed a game for Pools this season as his game time has been significantly limited due to injury.

But now it’s injuries elsewhere that have seen him presented an opportunity which he’s determined to take.

“Unfortunately we’ve had a couple of injuries with Raynesy and Fraser but that happens and I’ve got to come in and be professional and hopefully take my opportunity,” added the 30-year-old.

“I’m very happy to be back and I felt good and positive about myself and the team as a whole playing on Saturday.

“I know my role in this team and we’ve got some very good footballers in this team but my job is just to help limit the amount of goals we concede.

“I do that by giving everything, playing with my heart as I always try and do.

“I have to make sure I do my job and defend to enable the forward and midfield players to go and do what they’re good at – hopefully I did all right.”