DARRELL Clarke believes Hartlepool United's team spirit is going a long way to maintaining pole position in Division Three, writes NICK LOUGHLIN.

Clarke and his Pool teammates are without a game today after their clash at Macclesfield was frozen off after a noon inspection yesterday.

And the midfielder, with two goals to his name in his last three outings, is certain the free week won't do any harm.

"We're five points clear at the top, so no-one can complain,'' said Clarke. "Other teams might have games in hand, but they have to win the games to close us down and the pressure is on them to do it.

"We've got the points in the bag which is important. We've got 20-odd games to go and we've just got to stay consistent.

"At Boston last week we showed we are more than capable of grinding out a result.

"But the spirit here is unbelievable, the lads all stick together and that is what helped us at Boston. Not many teams will go there and win between now and the end of the season.

"They won 3-0 and 6-0 in their two home games before us, so we have showed what we can do.''

Pool would have been without Graeme Lee today and his suspension will now take affect for next week's game with Oxford at Victoria Park.

Second-placed Rushden go to Kidderminster this afternoon.

l Today's game at Moss Rose has been rearranged for Tuesday, January 21.

Read more about Hartlepool here.