Pools boss proud of record breakers after derby win

6:03am Monday 26th March 2007

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Darlington 0, Hartlepool United 3.

NOT content with breaking a club record, Danny Wilson last night spoke of his enormous pride after witnessing Hartlepool United make it 22 matches without defeat with their biggest win at Darlington.

Pools' comprehensive 3-0 victory at the 96.6TFM Arena reaffirmed their status at the top of League Two, while it also put a dent in the Quakers' hopes of climbing into the play-offs.

Darlington, whose manager Dave Penney remains optimistic about his side's chances of finishing in the top seven, remain two points shy of the side occupying that elusive final play-off berth, Wycombe.

But it is Hartlepool who deserve the credit, having broken the 21-match run set by the class of 2001, and now they are determined to land the first silverware in their 99-year history

"We have done ourselves and Hartlepool proud by the way we have played," said Wilson, after a victory witnessed by more than 10,000 fans - the biggest crowd to have attended this fixture in the league in 50 years.

"We have been disciplined in everything we have done. The fans were impeccable and it's been absolutely fantastic.

"But, more importantly, it is the bigger picture we are looking at. It's another three points to where we want to be. We wanted to come away with the run intact and it's been absolutely fantastic for us that we have done that.

"The record was never really something we were looking to achieve but from the players' point of view it's great to break it. To come and show the composure we did, in a real cup tie atmosphere, was terrific.

"The first objective has been achieved, and that is we have guaranteed a play-off place. We are there to be caught. We are not sitting around waiting for the title and we want to win the remaining games to make sure we get that."

It was also the first Hartlepool win on Darlington soil since the 2-1 success in April 1997, and it was secured by two exceptional Eifion Williams goals and a stooping Andy Monkhouse header ten minutes from time.

The goals ended Darlington's own 13-match unbeaten run and a frustrated Penney accepted their opponents deserved to win, even if things could have been different had goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos not made a stunning save from Tim Ryan's free-kick after ten minutes.

"We were beaten by a better team," said the Darlington boss. "We gave as good as we got in the first half. But we knew the second goal would decide the game and they got it through Williams. It was a fantastic goal and we couldn't do much about it.

"You can see why they are where they are. It's our job to pick the players up and get them ready for Barnet.

"Pools were nearly in the Championship not so long ago and you can see why they are unbeaten in 22. It would be nice to play them in League One.

"We can't afford to lose any more games now. We were hoping to get a result and get into the top seven but it wasn't meant to be. We'll just keep going and hopefully start another run.

"If we play like we did in the first half for the rest of the season we will win games. Seven games left and it's far from over.

"I think we lost some discipline towards the end with some of the younger players. Wycombe still have to come here so we're still in with a shout."

Penney also revealed that defender Ian Miller had to return to Ipswich on Friday after an injury-crisis hit the Tractor Boys.