One week later: What has been happening at Hartlepool United following the National League suspension due to the coronavirus outbreak?

Victoria Park, Hartlepool. (Photo by Paul Thomas/Getty Images)

Last Saturday, Pools drew 1-1 at Sutton United in what will prove to be their final National League game in quite some time.

After being off on Sunday, the players relocated their training sessions to Victoria Park on Monday to train as normal. That evening the National League confirmed that fixtures would be suspended until April 3 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Manager Dave Challinor was keen to arrange a friendly this week but the obvious risks involved in doing that while matches were suspended meant an intra-squad game took place at Victoria Park on Tuesday morning while chief executive Mark Maguire held a press conference.

The teams lined-up as follows:

Home kit: Beeney; Raynes, Odusina, Richardson, Southam-Hales, Mafuta, Kennedy, Shelton, Molyneux, Toure, Keena

Away kit: Killip; Anderson, Liddle, Cunningham, Kitching, Donaldson, Featherstone, Holohan, Hawkes, Bickley, Harker

The side donning the away kit picked up a comfortable victory at The Vic with new striker Lorne Bickley getting on the scoresheet.

Ryan Donaldson of Hartlepool United prior to the Vanarama National League match between Sutton United and Hartlepool United at the Knights Community Stadium, Gander Green Lane, Sutton on Saturday 14th March 2020. (Credit: Paul Paxford | MI News)

Fraser Kerr, Luke James and Luke Williams were also in attendance as they continue to recover from their respective injuries.

Many National League clubs have sent players home to self-isolate but Pools are continuing to train as best they can for the time being. The Thursday and Friday sessions involved players independently running with their times being tracked via an app.

Jason Kennedy stood out as the top performer in the Pools squad but Ryan Donaldson was quick to cast some doubt over the result as he stated in his captain’s blog: “Jason Kennedy was miles ahead of everyone else, he flew through it to such an extent that I’m not convinced he wasn’t on a bike!

“Ben Killip was through in a good time but managed to do it all on the wrong app – so in my head, that’s a void result really.”

For once, the players will have a free Saturday before getting back to running again on Sunday with training expected to continue into next week.