Pools' deadly duo are at it again

HARTLEPOOL’S prolific partnership of Rhys Oates and Luke Armstrong ensured that normal service was resumed on what was almost the perfect away-day in rainy Hampshire.

- Steve Gibbs

Back-to-back defeats against Bromley and Maidenhead were quickly forgotten as Dave Challinor’s side seized the initiative after a tight first-half and Oates and Armstrong took their combined goal tally to 27 to seal an impressively routine victory.

“We’ve lost the opportunity to finish second but today was back to what we’ve been like recently,” admitted a bullish Challinor as his team moved back up to third. “I thought the performance was very good, and really deserving of three points. We should have scored more goals but it’s about winning and we’ve done that relatively comfortably.”