IN May, Hartlepool United’s class of 2005 will be back together, a reunion being held to remember the play-off heroes of that season.

Pools were eight minutes from the Championship at the time, the most successful period in the club’s history.

By the time the players get back together at the Borough Hall, the worst team in the club’s history will also have made their mark.

For the first time, Pools will be preparing for life outside the Football League.

No-one has given up yet, and there’s still the (outside) chance of survival. But a team can’t pass up as many chances to claw the deficit back and get above the relegation line.

After losing at Bury two weeks previous, captain Scott Flinders said nothing less than six points from the next three games would do.

Boss Ronnie Moore looked at the next three games and demanded at least seven points.

Beating Wimbledon at Victoria Park last weekend and Pools were on track. The gap was down to six points and everyone left the game on a high.

So Pools went to Dagenham, never performed at all, and lost 2-0. They then had Burton at home, never performed at all and lost 1-0.

How, with so much at stake, can the players fail so miserably? Do they realise the severity of the situation?

Moore said a few weeks ago that a lot of this crop won’t be professional footballers next season, they will be working in Asda. If they prove as bad at stacking shelves as they do playing football, then it’s doubtful Asda will have them.

“We had a week which was going to be good. The games peter out. We give everyone hope with a win last week, then slap ourselves in the face,’’ reflected Moore.

“We win last week and it’s six points, lose the next two and it’s still only eight. That’s how bad the league is.

“That’s what disappoints me, we can’t get down to three to put pressure on other teams.

“We claw it in, get something, and then let others off.

“You can’t put it down to one thing – it’s how we are right now. Look at the goals we conceded the other night – an own goal and a worldie. You can’t do much about them, but you can about this one.

“When you are top of the league they go in for you, at the bottom it’s the other way. Don’t believe it evens itself out – no chance, not when you are down there.’’

Pools have a paltry 27 points from 35 games and a goal difference as big as the debt of a third world county.

They now have back to back away games to come, Morecambe on Saturday followed by Oxford a week tomorrow.

With two away wins all season, only nine goals scored on the road, and without a clean sheet in over a year, there’s every chance to eight points to safety will be into double figures by the time they are next at home.

This game was rank bad. Burton never looked like a top of the table side, Pools looked like Pools do.

“I can’t see why they are up there on that performance, they will probably say the wind or that they came down to our level which is what they say when they are up there like they are at their magic heights,’’ reflected Moore.

“Individually I wouldn’t be queuing up for many of their players and they won’t be for any of ours too.’’

The only goal came from a Pool’s free-kick pumped into the Burton area. Keeper Jon McLaughlin punched away, the ball was moved up to halfway and into Stuart Beavon.

Neil Austin and Nicky Featherstone were supposed to stop him, neither got close and he got away. Austin tracked back, got caught flat footed wondering where he was as he watched Florent Cuverlier run across him, collect the pass and score.

Michael Duckworth was dropped for Dan Jones, Austin switching to the right. Duckworth’s not been playing great of late, but Austin’s hardly covering himself in glory.

Pools concede far too many goals from crosses and the full backs are culpable.

“The free-kick, I checked when it was taken that Aussie and Featherstone were front and back marked on Bevan which is what we wanted,’’ said Moore.

“When the keeper punched it, I’ve said since I’ve been here show them down the line and don’t allow them inside.

“So we let them inside and then you take one for the team –, don’t allow him to come in. That’s naive from two experienced players.’’

He added: “We have just been naive and that’s why the goals against column is what it is. But at home of late, we’ve been good and I never thought at all we would lose this one - never had the feeling we had to do something to stop them coming. 
“But I never had the feeling we would win it either.

The 2005 reunion takes place on Saturday, May 16. A limited number of seats remain available at £20 a ticket or a table of ten for £200. 
All proceeds go to the Hartlepool and District Hospice. For info phone Andy on 07760 886715 or Phil on 07896 779471.