FOR Hartlepool United, their season starts now.

Without a game from December 19 to January 9, striker Scott Fenwick and his Pools team-mates had their own weather-enforced winter break.

But when they did return to action, they did so with two improved performances, against both Derby County and Wycombe Wanderers.

Striker Fenwick netted the winner against Wycombe on Saturday, and feels the rest has worked in their favour.

After starting the season with four successive wins, performances and results tailed off, to leave Pools floundering.

After victory on Saturday, however, Fenwick – and boss Ronnie Moore – revealed that the confidence was coming back to the ranks.

Pools go to Accrington this evening, with belief and spirit on the up.

Fenwick, with six goals to his name this season, admitted: “From the start of the year training has been better - it feels like a bit of a different team.

“Everyone is grafting for each other and that spirit is back from the first five or six games of the season, we are having little team bonding days here and there and everyone is going in the right direction and I think it proved it again on Saturday - that is two weeks in a row we have performed quite well.

“I think It was maybe that everyone was itching for a game all of us were in over Christmas and I think everyone looked after themselves and we all were looking forward to Notts County and Carlisle before they got postponed and everyone was itching for a football match - and just delighted to play when the Derby game was and we just need to keep churning the performances out now.

“It is a case of if you can match a team like Derby, and in spells outplay Derby, then not one team in this league is at that level so we can do it for one game why can’t we for 25?’’

He added: “People feared us for the first six games of the season I think we just lost that bit of confidence after a few bad results. It feels like that is back again, even when we are in training, and it feels like it is back.

“Hopefully we can build on it and if the gaffer and Sam can bring in a few more bodies the squad gets bigger and better quality is in then we can keep churning it out.’’

Pools last won away from home at Dagenham on October 17 and have back to back away games this week, with a trip to Cambridge on Saturday.

Seeing off Wycombe was a boost and Fenwick said: “You have to win your home games sand the new can go away with a bit more belief when you have results and positive performances behind your back you can maybe go to Accrington and have a good go and you might nick a draw or a win - we have just got to get that run going and a run of results.

“Plymouth was a funny one to lose, it was gutting, and even Derby was last week the same.

“I think it is 2016 is a fresh start, second half of the season and we are one from one now, unbeaten and hopefully we can get a little run going.’’

Pools added Ellis Harrison to their squad on Sunday, the Bristol Rovers attacker joining on a month’s loan to add competition up front.

With Billy Paynter expected to play for the reserves tomorrow after Achilles trouble, Moore has options to consider.

Fenwick has played wide in a front three this season, but makes no secret of where he prefers to play – up front through the middle.

He said: “I am back up there, that’s where I want to be that where I think I can give my best for the team.

“I don’t mind doing jobs when the squad is stretched, but when I am up there I am always confident I will score, especially when there balls are coming into the box - I am always confident I will score and I will get on the end of one of them.’’