Watch Hartlepool United's 2020-21 goal of the season winner that Barcelona's Lionel Messi would be proud of

The 26-year-old forward had already been confirmed as Pools’ players’ player and fans’ player of the 2020-21 campaign as his 17 goals helped the club secure promotion back to the Football League.

But it was his fine solo strike in a 4-2 defeat against Maidenhead that stood out as the club’s ‘Michael Maidens’ goal of the season voted by supporters.

Oates grabbed the ball, jinked past a few defenders in close proximity before turning another and finding the bottom left corner of the goal to equalise on the day after Danilo Orsi put the visitors ahead at Victoria Park.

It was a phenomenal solo effort that would ultimately prove to be in vain as Sam Barratt went on to net a hat-trick for The Magpies to put them 4-1 ahead before substitute Danny Elliott made it 4-2.

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