No clowning around for stylish Pools TRANMERE 1 HARTLEPOOL 2

THERE was no clowning around as Pools ended their season in style. In front of 738 travelling fans – dressed enmasse as clowns – Pools gave one of their best displays of the season.

Their win at Tranmere, who will contest the play-offs, was deserved and fully merited.

As is the norm now, Pools fans went to their last away game in fancy dress. The clown theme may have been a nod in the direction of the traumas suffered on and off the pitch all season, but they went home with smiles galore.

Pools have ended the season in 15th in the National League. It’s nowhere near where they expected to be back in August, but probably higher than anticipated two months ago when the very existence of the club was in serious doubt.

With Raj Singh now in control off the pitch, attention turns to finding a leader on it.

Matthew Bates has been in caretaker command and this result and display will have done his chances the power of good.

An announcement is due early in the week and, after steering Pools to safety, Bates could not have done any more.

Amid a positive start for Pools, they moved the ball around well and controlled the early proceedings.

Jake Cassidy tried his luck with his back to goal, his overhead kick sailing over. A neat lobbed pass from Nicky Featherstone over a packed defence played Lewis Hawkins in on goal.

The angle was tight and his low volley was stopped at the near post by keeper Scott Davies.

Pools were under pressure down their right side and Liam Donnelly was up against it on his return after injury

Rovers’ best chance of the half came on 40 minutes. James Norwood was in on goal, and he seemed to skirt around Scott Loach and pick his spot. But as he looked to tap in, Loach recovered and dived low to push the ball around the post.

But Pools took the lead as the half came to a close. Donnelly was pushed over in the area, and the right-back netted from the spot.

Pools replaced Devante Rodney with Rhys Oates and the substitute got away on the left. He charged past three challenges and his dinked finish rolled across goal and just wide.

At the other end, Loach was rarely called into action and a low shot from top scorer Andy Cook was pulled away from goal.

But Pools doubled their lead on 75 minutes. A deep corner was flapped at by keeper Davies, Laing kept the ball alive and when it was played into the six-yard area, Oates backheeled the ball home.

Two minutes later and the advantage was halved.

A fine free-kick from Jeff Hughes curled around the defensive wall and beat Loach at the keeper’s left-hand post.

But Pools were good value for their victory. Bates said: “I think it was one of the best performances away from home we have had this season – I’m really pleased.

“It’s the last game and we were at a team who are already in the play-offs. We went two goals up and I think we fully deserved the win.

“We have been struggling at times being good in possession and then bad out of possession, or the other way round, but today we were good at both.

“Liam took his penalty and he takes them for Northern Ireland Under-21s. There was a wait before he could take it and he was confident. The lads

” could have come here and been on holiday, but they weren’t and they played very well.’’