THE Great Escape could well be on for Hartlepool United after a third successive win.

 

Pools, after seeing off Mansfield at a raucous Victoria Park, are only a point from safety at the bottom of the Football League. 

Defeats for Tranmere and Cheltenham and draws for York and Carlisle mean the gap is as close as it ever has been.

And, with a home game to come with Cambridge next weekend, could Pools be off the bottom in a week? 

They beat ten-man Mansfield thanks to Brad Walker’s second-half penalty – their third win in seven days without conceding a goal.

Amid a tame first-half, chances for both sides were rare. But Pools took the game to the Stags at the start of the second period.

Nicky Featherstone was bundled over in the area by Lee Beevers and Walker made no mistake from 12 yards.

The Stags were down in numbers when Junior Brown challenged Walker for a high ball, but planted his studs into the goalscorers head. And, while there was no malice intended, referee Darren Handley had little choice.

The Stags switched to a 3-2-4 formation and pressed Pools back.

Goalkeeper Scott Flinders saved low from Billy Kee, before diving high to his right to push out a stinging Chris Clements drive from distance.

Pools boss Ronnie Moore said: “It’s been a massive week and we said that all along we do our part, others will falter and others are starting to feel the pressure now.

“We have closed the gap, we normally give hope and take it away again, but nothing but praise for the way they have done their job.

“It’s one point and the fans stayed with us, they were loyal and they want it as much as anyone.’’

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Flinders; Harrison (J Jones 33), Mirfin, D Jones; Duckworth, Tshibola, Featherstone, Walker (Hawkins 90), Austin; Bird, Franks. Subs: Maxted (gk), Harewood, Nelson-Aaddy, Richards, Smith

MANSFIELD: Pidgley; Beevers (Bingham 72), Raynes, Riley, Heslop; McGuire; Hawkridge (Lambe 53), Clements, Heslop (Oliver 50), Brown; Kee. Subs: Studer (gk), Sutton, Rhead, Ravenhill.

Referee: Darren Handley

Attendance: 4,166