Hartlepool kickstart their National League play-off campaign as they welcome Bromley to Victoria Park

With Hartlepool’s fourth-place finish in the National League, they now face the elimination round against Bromley before potentially qualifying for the semi-finals.

The Pools’ drop off in form in recent weeks nullified their chances of a top-three finish and saw them lose their guaranteed place in the semi-finals to Stockport County, a side who are unbeaten in their last 18 games, also the side they will face if successful against Bromley this weekend.

Hartlepool need to focus on their game against Bromley first though, the North East side will go into the game flying with confidence following their 4-0 thrashing of Weymouth last weekend on the final day of the campaign.

After the victory against Weymouth, Hartlepool manager Dave Challinor said the home advantage in the game against Bromley will be key.

“It’s a home advantage and it needs to be a home advantage, not just we’re playing at home […] they’ll be a huge part of what we’ll do. Hopefully they can play their part in what’ll be a special few weeks for us.”

It’s Challinor’s highest finish as a manager with a sixth-place and fifth-place finish under his belt in his managerial career already but it’ll mean nothing if the Pools are unsuccessful in this play-off scenario.

One of the biggest obstacles in their path through to the next stage of the play-offs is Michael Cheek, the league’s top scorer. The 29-year-old has bagged 23 goals this season from 43 appearances, scoring four more than anyone else in the league and eight more than Pools’ top scorer, Rhys Oates.

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Challinor will be hoping that his defence can withhold the attacking ability that the Ravens possess and will look to key players like Gary Liddle, Ryan Johnson and Lewis Cass. The latter of which has been a star all season for the side since arriving from Newcastle on loan.

The 21-year-old has featured in a majority of Hartlepool’s games this season and has played a vital part throughout, playing 34 times this campaign.

Offering versatility is vital for sides in the current day, and with Cass still only being 21, it means that the youngster still will develop a lot more. With him gaining more credit as he plays more games, it is only positive for the loanee and Hartlepool fans to certainly be hoping to see him return next season, no matter which league the Poolies are in.

Another member of the defence hoping to right the wrongs from last month will be Gary Liddle. In the 1-0 defeat to Bromley, the veteran defender received a second yellow in the game and was sent off, succumbing Hartlepool to an even worse day which started Hartlepool’s downfall with three losses and only one win in 20 days.

Liddle has already played for the Poolies in the fourth tier of English football so will be keen to return there with Hartlepool if the side can win three more games.

With it looking like Luke Armstrong will be returning to the side following missing last weekend’s game through illness, it only bolsters the squad that Dave Challinor has available to him. The front three will be hoping to increase their goal tallies whilst potentially firing Hartlepool into the Football League once again.

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