Why Hartlepool United fans could have cause to celebrate at the end of the season even if Pools don't finish in National League's top seven
Hartlepool United's National League play-off hopes were handed a much-needed shot in the arm at the weekend, with Pools edging past Eastleigh while Southend United dropped points at Altrincham.
Nicky Featherstone's side came into the latest round of fixtures with their top seven prospects, at best, hanging by a thread but Pools appear to have propelled themselves back into contention after Matty Daly's 30th minute strike helped them beat the struggling Spitfires 1-0.
Over in Greater Manchester, meanwhile, Southend handed Pools an unexpected lifeline after slipping up against lowly Altrincham, with a 14th minute goal from Liam Humbles condemning them to their first defeat in six matches.
With Pools having suffered a huge blow in the hotly contested race for the top seven following back-to-back home defeats at the hands of relegation-threatened Sutton United and Halifax Town, another of their direct rivals for a coveted play-off place, the Shrimpers appeared to be very much in the driving seat as the end of the season draws ever closer.
Indeed, had Kevin Maher's side managed to get past the Robins on Saturday, then a gap of seven points with eight games to go - the Essex outfit still boast a game in hand on Pools, meaning they have nine matches left to play - would surely have seemed insurmountable.
While it's true that Pools still have a mountain to climb if they're to stand any realistic chance of usurping Southend, who were beaten in last season's play-off final, the weekend's results at least means that Featherstone's side still have a sliver of hope to hold onto.
In all likelihood, Pools will have to win at least five - and, more likely, six or seven - of their remaining eight games to leapfrog the Shrimpers and steal into the top seven.
While there is still potential for another swing, with Southend set to visit Victoria Park in the final week of the season, Pools have it all to do if they're to ensure they're still within touching distance of Kevin Maher's side by the time that game comes around.
Certainly, the statistics don't make for particularly encouraging reading; Pools, who are in desperate need of stringing a run of wins together, have managed back-to-back victories on five separate occasions so far this term but have only won three on the bounce once, back in August.
What's more, Pools look to have a hugely challenging run of fixtures to end the campaign, with Featherstone's side taking on Scunthorpe United, Rochdale Boreham Wood, Forest Green Rovers and, of course, Southend - all teams in the top eight - before finishing the campaign away at a Boston United outfit who have been in excellent form since the return of former manager Paul Hurst.
Pools, then, will feel as though they simply have to take maximum points from their next two games, trips to third from bottom Morecambe - although, as Featherstone will surely point out, matches against teams scrapping for their lives at this stage of the season are never a foregone conclusion - and mid-table Wealdstone. If Pools can extend their winning run over the next two weeks, then they'll at least keep themselves in contention; any further slip-ups, however, and Featherstone's side might as well start planning for a fourth successive season in the National League.
It's also important not to discount Halifax Town, who are the current occupants of seventh spot albeit the Shaymen still feel like relative outsiders in comparison to Southend given that they're just a point clear having played two games more.
Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, the West Yorkshire side have enjoyed a pretty successful campaign under new boss Adam Lakeland, who was faced with the considerable task of filling the big boots left by former manager Chris Millington when he left over the summer.
Indeed, Millington led Halifax to successive top seven finishes as well as FA Trophy glory in 2023 despite limited resources as well as crippling issues with the playing surface at the Shay.
Lakeland, however, has done a commendable job of following in Millington's footsteps so far, overcoming a slow start to the season that saw them lose three of their first four matches before establishing themselves as play-off contenders once again since the turn of the year.
Much of Halifax's considerable success has been down to the superb form of the prolific Will Harris, who has scored 23 goals in 39 games this term and bagged the winner against Pools earlier this month; since missing a penalty against Pools the first time the two teams met this term in November, the 25-year-old marksman, who spent time on trial at Victoria Park in 2022, has found the net an impressive 19 times in 23 matches.
While Southend and Halifax still have to play one another in April, both sides appear to have a more favourable run of fixtures than Pools between now and the end of the campaign, with the Shrimpers in particular appearing to have been dealt a better hand by the National League's supercomputer; Pools, then, appear to need something resembling a miracle.
Whatever happens, it feels important that long-suffering Pools fans don't lose sight of the fact that their team appear to be making considerable progress on and off the pitch under new owner Landon Smith.
After all, this time last season supporters were fretting over the threat of relegation and even potential administration amid concerns over the future ownership of the club, but now, Pools are pushing for the play-offs and are already beginning to implement exciting new plans that Smith hopes will lead to sustainable, long-term success.
So, while this season might not have the miraculous ending that more optimistic sections of the fanbase are still holding out hope for, supporters can afford to look ahead to the future with optimism; if Smith and his team get things right, then a longed-for return to the Football League might not be too far away.