Sutton United 3-0 Hartlepool United RECAP: Sutton win the National League title
and live on Freeview channel 276
Goals from Rob Milsom, Louis John and Isaac Olaofe saw the U’s clinch promotion and the National League title for the first time in their history.
Pools had a few chances but couldn't find a way past Sutton as they remained fourth in the National League table ahead of next weekend against Weymouth.
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FULL-TIME: Sutton United 3 (Milsom 35’, John 73’, Olaofe 80’) Hartlepool United 0
Key Events
- Pools XI: James; Francis-Angol, Johnson, Liddle, Cass, Sterry; Featherstone, Donaldson, Holohan; Oates, Armstrongsubs: Ferguson, Shelton, Molyneux, Williams, Elliott
- Pools subs: Ferguson, Shelton, Molyneux, Williams, Elliott
- Pools bookings: Johnson (56), Francis-Angol (57)
- Sutton XI: Bouzanis; Barden, Goodliffe, John, Ajiboye, Davis, Bugiuel, Eastmond, Milsom, Olaofe, Wilson
- Sutton subs: Wyatt, Beautyman, Randall, House, Sho-Silva
- Sutton bookings: none
- Referee: Simon Mather
- Attendance: 1,050
IT’S MATCHDAY! Welcome back to our live blog
Dominic Scurr here down in Sutton for what is bound to be a huge and potentially decisive afternoon of National League football at Gander Green Lane.
Sutton can win the league, it’s live on BT Sport, Pools also have a chance of reclaiming third spot too. Just the type of games you want to be involved in at the back end of the season.
Unfortunately it’s not quite the title decider Pools would have liked to be part of themselves but securing a top three spot would be a huge achievement for Dave Challinor’s side who sat as low as 14th in the table back in December.
We’ll have all the build-up, team news, previews, action and reaction throughout the day in our live blog.
Simply refresh the page to stay up to date.
If you have any questions about Pools or today’s game, tweet us at @HUFCMail or my personal account @DomScurr.
LIVE ON BT SPORT
There will be no club live stream available for today’s match but it is available live on BT Sport 1.
You can get a monthly pass of BT Sport which will include matches such as the Champions League final as well as today’s match for £25 and you can cancel anytime.
Saturday’s results
Some big results at the top of the National League on Saturday with both Torquay United and Stockport County dropping points, giving both Sutton and Hartlepool the chance to capitalise this afternoon.
Here’s how the National League table is looking
Sutton will win the league with victory this afternoon. Even a point is likely to be enough given their superior goal difference.
Pools could still potentially finish second but an in form Notts County could still catch them should they fail to pick up a point between now and the end of the season.
A win would see them jump ahead of Stockport into third.
Speculation continues around Dave Challinor’s future with Tranmere Rovers reportedly eyeing up their former defender
Last time out: Aldershot 1-3 Hartlepool
Second half goals from Luke Armstrong, Rhys Oates and Nicky Featherstone saw Hartlepool United get back to winning ways at Aldershot Town last weekend.
Mo Bettamer scored a late penalty for The Shots to deny debut goalkeeper Brad James a clean sheet.
Changes hinted for Pools today
Dave Challinor will be without Harvey Saunders, Ben Killip and Joe Grey this afternoon while a few others are nursing slight niggles.
“There may be a couple of changes or we may look at things,” Challinor said.
“We’ve looked at things in training this week and we’ll continue to do that but regardless of what team we go with, we’re going there to win a game of football.”
Last time the sides met: Hartlepool 1-0 Sutton
Hartlepool United claimed a big scalp in their mid season climb up the table with a 1-0 win over Sutton United at Victoria Park.
It was their first ever National League win against The U’s with Rhys Oates’ second half header proving the difference.
Dave Challinor on the return of fans this afternoon
Around 1,000 Sutton fans are expected to attend today’s match.
Pools boss Dave Challinor said ahead of the game: “We’d much rather have some of our own supporters in there because our supporters, particularly travelling away from home, are normally big in numbers, vocal and can be a big influence on the game.
“There will be points in any game, home or away, where you can call upon your supporters to get you through it. When you’re looking to hang on or grab a goal in the last five minutes and sometimes external influences from supporters can have a bigger impact than what you might think.
“That’s not the case, it’s solely a home crowd and they’ll want their home crowd to help them through home scenarios. We’ve got to make sure they don’t influence that situation.
“Regardless of whether we’re playing home or away, all of the players will be looking forward to having some atmosphere after what has been really a sterile situation.”
Sutton would be ‘deserving champions’ if they win today, says Challinor
“They’ve been really consistent,” said the Pools boss.
“Of all of the teams, they’re probably the one who over the course of the season have managed to keep the core of their team fit and been able to pick the same team pretty consistently.
“They haven’t got a huge squad but it’s full of really solid players at this level. We know it’s a tough game but they are where they are on merit and they’ve given themselves a shot where it’s in their hands.
“You look at it and suggest that the way the table looks, it’s theirs to lose now. They’ll back themselves to pick up the points to make sure they lift the trophy come the end of the season. If that is the case then they’d be deserving champions.”