End season on a high note, Pools

What a pleasant change for Hartlepool United, as they go into the final game of the season without a worry over their League One status – they might not be able to relax, but they can play their game at Charlton knowing they are safe for another season.

But they should also bear in mind one or two simple facts of life – without player-of-the-year Antony Sweeney’s 14 goals from midfield, some great goalkeeping from Scott Flinders and Jake Kean and a fairly solid defence the story might have been different.

It’s an age-old problem for Pools – they haven’t scored enough goals, and Flinders isn’t going to score every game.

For decades, the club has struggled to find marksmen who can consistently hit the net, then when they do find one he is signed by another club or is plagued by injury and Pools are back to square one.

On occasions, they have managed to find a goalscoring gem elsewhere – like Gordon Watson, for instance – but flirtations like that don’t last and again, Pools have to start all over again.

James Brown’s season has been badly hampered by injury and Adam Boyd has not had the success he or the club would have wished for on his return to the Vic, so once the weekend game is over and he’s back behind his desk, boss Mick Wadsworth knows what he has to do – find a goalscorer.

But of course he’s not alone – every manager at every club in the country wants a goalscorer, either because he hasn’t got one or because he’s got one, but wants to be greedy.

The Charlton result might not matter, but the performance does – Wadsworth’s target of 60 points won’t be reached, but Pools can make 59 and that’s what he will be aiming for against one of the so-called big clubs which have found life so difficult in recent seasons.

Meanwhile, Sweeney has selflessly praised his team-mates after being named player of the year by both the fans and the players at Pools.

He told the Northern Echo: The fans' vote first and foremost is brilliant because they are paying their hard-earned cash to come and see us and it's a really special award.

"On the other hand, I'm not sure which one is better because to get recognition off your team-mates as well who you train with every day and play with - without their help and support you don't get anywhere.

"They are both two special awards for different reasons."

Sweeney is the club’s longest-serving player and he says this and the League One play-off final season six years ago are rivals for his best.

He added: “It just shows you, if you've got a good team spirit - which we had then - it can carry you to massive points and we ended up in a play-off final.

"Who would have thought that? Hartlepool United against Sheffield Wednesday in a cup final.

"I think with a few more additions to the squad there is every chance we could do it again - you look at Rochdale, Leyton Orient, they are in and around the play-offs and there is every chance you can go on that run.''

A win at Charlton in the final game would give everybody the sort of hope Sweeney clearly has to take into the close-season.