Luke puts Pools in the picture
HARTLEPOOL UNITED are now level on points with Torquay United at the National League summit after securing a narrow win over the Gulls. The Pools had previously lost 5-0 to Torquay last October, and had trailed them by 11 points at the turn of the year. However, they now only separated by goal difference thanks to Luke Molyneux’s 14th minute effort – which ultimately proved to be decisive. “To win and keep a clean sheet against a really good team is a really good effort by our lads,” said boss Dave Challinor. “We did a bit of work yesterday on the way down about slipping balls through and Luke (Armstrong) picked out Mols (Molyneux) and it’s a really good start to the game for us and it proved to be a pivotal moment. “I also think we’ve defended really well to keep the likes of (Armani) Little, (Ben) Whitfield and (Connor) Lemonheigh-Evans quiet – that’s a big ask because they are top players at this level.” Pools took the lead on 14 minutes when top scorer Luke Armstrong picked out Molyneux with a precision pass and the attacker found the back of the net with an angled effort. The visitors were in the ascendency – Rhys Oates twice thwarted by the Gulls backline. Torquay did manage to fashion a chance in the 19th minute through Chesterfield loanee Scott Boden, who was making his full debut, but his deflected shot on the turn was easily gathered by Pools keeper Ben Killip. Ten minutes later, Boden looked well placed to find the target for the hosts again but his effort was forced behind for a corner by Hartlepool’s James Sterry. Torquay then enjoyed a strong spell of possession but they were unable to break down a well organised Pools defence. Ben Whitfield attempted to pick out Boden with a cross from the right, only to be denied by a welltimed clearance from Gary Liddle. In the second half, Torquay started the brighter as Lemonheigh-Evans saw a shot palmed behind by Killip in the 51st minute. The visitors almost ended the game as a contest with seven minutes to go when Ryan Johnson had a header blocked on the line following a Nicky Featherstone corner. From the rebound Armstrong forced a save from Gulls keeper Shaun MacDonald. Five minutes later, Torquay substitutes Josh Umerah and Billy Waters combined to set up a chance for Waters, but the former Cheltenham and Northampton striker was denied by the reflexes of Killip. It proved vital in helping Pools to clinch all three points and left Torquay manager Gary Johnson a frustrated figure. “Our game wasn’t quick enough today. They started well, and they got the goal and that gave them the confidence to move forward a little bit,” said Johnson. “My lads lost a bit of confidence because of the goal and we shouldn’t have done. It was only late on that we started pushing numbers forward which we need to do if we want to win football matches.”