Pools’ scrape point to see Gulls go down HARTLEPOOL 1 TORQUAY UTD 1
CLEATOR Moor Celtic hold a six-point lead at the top of the table after seeing off Hartlepool FC 3-0.
All three goals came in the first-half, with Kieran Maguire scoring a brace and Callum Birdsall also getting on the score sheet.
However, second-placed Redcar Athletic hold the iniTHE most unflattering of seaand the Gulls levelled minutes tiative in the title race after sons ended with the most later. they managed to see off unflattering of performances. It After 15 minutes, Pools took Windscale 2-1. summed up Pools well. the lead. As the Gulls’ defendJoe Bennett’s wonder goal
Under the caretaker comers stood off, Ryan Donaldson from 40 yards proved to be mand of Matthew Bates, Pools was allowed to shoot and a the winner and Redcar are were outplayed throughout the deflection from Josh Gowling just six points behind the second half by Torquay, who caught keeper Dorel flatfooted leaders with three games in somehow failed to win and as it spun into the net. hand. were relegated as a result. The Gulls were given a lifeHebburn Town Reserves
Their manager, former Sunline on 27 minutes. Louis Laing slipped to third as a 1-0 derland schemer Gary Owers, was ruled to have felled Rhys defeat at Richmond Town cut an emotional figure on the Healey in the area, but keeper all-but ended their title Victoria Park pitch after the Scott Loach superbly kept out hopes. game. the well-struck spot kick from The Hornets are six points
It was Pools in tears 12 Brett Williams. behind the leaders and have months ago as they were releThe miss deflated the visiplayed one game more. gated from the Football League. tors, who were spraying loose With a top-four finish at
This time around they surpasses around at will. stake, Sunderland West End vived the drop thanks to Bates Pools could have had a secfought back from one goal lifting a threadbare squad to ond when Jake Cassidy’s charge down against Stokesley SC. muster enough points to stay from deep was halted by a pack Brad Wilson found the net out of the bottom four. of yellow shirts. on either side of half-time
Now, with Raj Singh’s takeoAt the start of the secondbefore Mark Robinson ver complete, the new chairhalf, a weak chip from Rhys cemented the comeback. man take charge immediately. Healey sailed harmlessly over Phil Otele’s hat-trick saw He will demand a big improveLoach’s goal. Wolviston leap into sixth at ment on this. Jack Munns, back in action the expense of their visitors,
Bates wants to be named after missing a chunk of the Silksworth CW, in a 3-1 win. permanent boss, and he has season following a mouth canSilksy had taken the lead spoken with Singh and new cer scare, almost made it two when a penalty was awarded director of football Craig for Pools. on 33 minutes. Otele then Hignett. His low, angled free-kick equalised for the hosts
But he will need better disbounced in front of Dorel, who before scoring the goal that plays than this if he is to be managed to keep it out. put his side in front on 69 manager at the club next seaA shot from Healey flashed minutes. son. into the side netting and, when The striker completed his
Pools were down to 10 men Jamie Reid’s low, shot bobbled hat-trick with a penalty four for the closing minutes as wide, it was their ninth shot off minutes from the final whisyoung debutant Aaron Cuntarget.tle. ningham was harshly sent off, When they did land one in Harton and Westoe moved five points clear of the bottom two with a 3-1 win over bottom club Coxhoe Athletic.
Aaron Coulson and Liam Mulvain had the visitors two goals up but Coxhoe give themselves a chance of redemption with a strike just before the break.
However, Coulson was back among the scorers again in the second half to secure the three points.
South Shields Reserves’ poor run continues as Gateshead Leam Rangers edged a five-goal thriller.
Nathan Baddams’ and Joe Warren’s strikes were not enough for the Mariners, who fell to a sixth defeat in a row.
Darlington Reserves thrashed Annfield Plain 4-0 to bounce back from four consecutive defeats. lock was finally broken at the end of an underwhelming first half when Ben McKenna whipped in a fine cross that was met by a Joe Guest header.
The Moors looked to get back on level terms in the opening stages of the second half and only a fine save from Curzon keeper Cam Mason could deny them.
Mason dived full-length to his left to palm a curling effort from David Foley around his far-post and then denied Ryan Hall as the Moors ramped up the pressure. between the posts, Loach saved spectacularly from George Dowling. Next up, a closerange header from Reid beat Loach, but came back off the bar.
Loach again infuriated the Gulls with a fine save to deny Reid once more.
Cunningham was red-carded on 80 minutes and, 60 seconds later, the Gulls were level when Healey drilled in from 10 yards.
“I think it sums up our season. We defended well first-half about being under any pressure and their shape caused us a problem,’’ said Bates. “The fans have been brilliant here. They haven’t had a lot to cheer about and still turn up, and all they want to see is a winning football team.
“With Connor Newton coming off, Aaron sent off, I would probably take a point.
“We were missing Woodsy and Mags and we didn’t have the personnel to win the game.’’