Story of the day: Hartlepool United 3-1 Chesterfield – Pools start bank holiday weekend with a bang to go 16 unbeaten
and live on Freeview channel 276
Goals from Rhys Oates, a Josef Yarney own goal and another from Luke Armstrong in the first half were enough to seal the three points for Pools despite former defender Fraser Kerr pulling a goal back for Chesterfield in the second half.
The win keeps Pools third in the table going into the bank holiday Monday match at Bromley (3pm kick-off).
Refresh the page and scroll down through our live blog to see how events unfolded...
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FULL-TIME: Hartlepool United 3 (Oates 4, Yarney og 39, Armstong 43) Chesterfield 1 (Kerr 62)
Key Events
- Pools XI: Ravas; Ferguson, Odusina, Liddle, Cass, Sterry; Featherstone, Shelton, Holohan; Oates, Armstrong
- Pools subs: Donaldson, Francis-Angol, White, Elliott, Saunders
- Pools bookings:
- Chesterfield XI: G.Smith; Carline, Yarney, Kerr, Maguire, Weston, Taylor, Clarke, Tyson, Rowe, Oyeleke
- Chesterfield subs: Rowley, Mandeville, Whelan, M.Smith, Mitchell
- Chesterfield bookings:
- Referee: Darren Williams
One hour until team news
Our Pools writer Dominic Scurr is predicting one change for Hartlepool this afternoon.
Ryan Johnson nearing a return for Pools
“Johno has done his two weeks rehab and was out running on the grass earlier in the week and he did a little bit on Thursday,” manager Dave Challinor said.
This weekend probably comes too soon for him but he’ll do some work over the weekend.
“It’s going to be difficult next week because of the bank holiday fixture because the likelihood is we’ll have a couple of days downtime after Monday but if we can get a full week into him load-wise then hopefully he becomes available for us for the following week at Maidenhead or Aldershot the week after.
“He’ll come back at a good time for us and hopefully he has no set-backs and he can come back into the fold and give us a great option.”
Challinor on Danny Rowe
Chesterfield signed former AFC Fylde striker Danny Rowe from Bradford City last week as he looks to open his account at Victoria Park this evening.
Rowe was prolific for Fylde under current Pools boss Dave Challinor, who is well aware of the threat he poses.
“The thing with Rowey, he can go through games anonymously,” he told The Mail.
“But without doing anything in the game, he can pop up and smash one in from anywhere within 35-yards of the goal within a heartbeat.”
Challinor’s side will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in the National League to 16 matches when they host Chesterfield at Victoria Park on Saturday (5:20pm kick-off).
Meanwhile, Rowe will be eyeing his first goal for his new club against his old manager.
“You have to be on your toes all the time and be switched on so even if he’s quiet, you have to be alert and aware that he can turn a game on its head with one moment of quality,” added the United manager.
“He scores goals from areas of the pitch where goals aren’t normally possible but in terms of stopping him, it comes down to a team emphasis and stopping him getting the ball.”
Here’s what Chesterfield manager James Rowe said about Dave Challinor ahead of today’s clash
“He (Challinor) is an experienced manager who has been in the play-offs himself, had FA Trophy success with Fylde before coming across to Hartlepool,” Rowe told the Derbyshire Times.
“The way he sets his team up will be a real challenge for us because they like to dominate the ball too so I am sure it will be a good spectacle.
“I think it will be open, I think both teams will play with their identity and really go and win the game, we will certainly be trying to win it.
“I am really looking forward to seeing how we can match-up against a team that has had a pre-season together, got an experienced manager and got some experienced players and like to play through the thirds.”
You can listen to our pre-match Poolie Podcast here
Dominic Scurr and Rich Mennear discuss a busy bank holiday weekend for Pools.
Challinor preview’s tonight’s match
Hartlepool beat Chesterfield 2-1 during the opening week of the season but Dave Challinor is expecting a different test today.
“It’s completely different in terms of personnel,” the Hartlepool boss said.
“They’ve got a new manager – I watched them on Saturday against Wrexham and off the top of my head, there was probably only two players who played against us back in October who played for them at Wrexham last weekend.
“They’re completely different but we’re also quite a bit different from that time as well so we’re looking forward to the game. It’s a tough weekend for us but a massively important one with a late kick-off on Saturday and having to travel down to London.
“Of all the teams, we’re probably one who doesn’t benefit from it because we’re having to go to Bromley who don’t play on Saturday but that’s just the way things have worked out.
“The importance of the games will override that and we’ll be looking to get six points if we can because that would be a huge return over two tough games.”
Social media boycott
There is a social media boycott across football until 11:59pm on Monday, May 3. All Hartlepool Mail updates throughout the weekend will be available in our live blog and on the Hartlepool Mail website. No social media updates will be available.
Here’s how the top half of the National League table is looking ahead of today’s matches
Pools sitting third at the moment but could potentially drop to fourth by the time they kick-off at 5:20pm.
Gooooooooooood morning! Welcome back to our Pools live blog!
It’s been a while! Two weeks to be exact since Pools were last in National League action.
Since the 7-2 win at Wealdstone, Hartlepool have dropped to third in the National League table following wins for Torquay United and Sutton.
Dave Challinor’s side are in action at home to Chesterfield live on BT Sport this evening.
The Spireites sit sixth in the table following a 2-1 midweek win at Bromley, 11 points behind Pools.
We’ll be bringing you all the build-up and updates throughout the day here in our live blog.
Refresh the page and scroll through the live blog to stay up to date.