MATTHEW BATES is set to stay in charge of Hartlepool United for the remainder of the season; and rightly so if he can get performances like this out of his players.

After two draws and two wins from their last four games to lift them five points ahead of the relegation zone, and the threat of administration all but eradicated, Pools should be good for another season in the National League, avoiding relegation.

The club’s takeover by Raj Singh – who will appoint Craig Hignett as director of football – is set to be completed today. The pair were both at Victoria Park for the game. 

The deal is in place, agreements are there with John Blackledge and Sage Investments for Singh, the former Darlington chief, to take command.

All he is waiting for is some papers to be returned from solicitors to be signed off. It was hoped to have been completed last Friday, expected in time for last night’s game, but should be confirmed today.

Bates said: “I’ve never hidden from the fact I want to be a manager and the takeover hasn’t happened yet. I don’t know their thoughts and I’m sure we will have a conversation.

“There’s so many things to think about. A lot of questions need to be asked – budgets, players and it’s a long way from me.’’

He added: “First-half was the best I’ve seen us for a long time, this season and last. A sucker punch on half-time and the only way they looked like scoring was a set-play.

“The message at half-time was forget that, it happens, we move on and kick on second-half.

“The dressing room was flat at half-time, we told them the positives and the truth. It was as good as I’ve seen us and told them to play with confidence, carry it on.

“We still played well second-half and deserved it.’’

Pools are low on numbers, but rising in confidence.

Bates handed a debut, a first start, to midfielder Josh Hawkes, amid a reshuffle. It was born out of necessity rather than choice, but it worked a treat.

The teenager had a couple of bright touches to assert himself into the game, before taking hold of it on ten minutes.

As space opened up 25 yards out, he fired at goal and the shot may have taken a hefty deflection to loop it high over keeper David Gregory, but there’s no taking his moment of glory away from him.

It was almost two on 17 minutes, when Blair Adams curled a free-kick over from the right and the ball just evaded Rhys Oates in front of goal.

Adams got forward from left-back to attack and cut into the penalty area, swiping his shot wide.

Bates said in his pre-match press conference that he has told his players to get the Victoria Park crowd on side with their effort and energy.

The crowd were rewarded with some honesty and effort aplenty last night.

Hawkes was impressive in the middle. Neat and tidy, he used the ball well, nutmegging an opponent to feed Oates.

Before last night he had played only nine minutes of first-team football in six substitute outings, amid loan spells with Marske and Dunston in the Northern League.

Bromley, with their 20 fans in the Rink End making the 570-mile round-trip, threatened before half-time for the first time, when Pools back four stood off and allowed the opposition space.

Adam Mekki’s shot was deflected wide by the much-improved Louis Laing and Pools regrouped.

From the cleared corner, their incessant chasing and pressing forced Bromley into making mistakes.

Pools conceded in first-half stoppage time, an undeserved leveller. A corner curled into the six-yard box was bundled in by defender Josh Rees.

Should keeper Scott Loach have done better? The consensus at the break was unanimous.

Pools were slow to start in the second period, but almost took the lead on 51 minutes. Substitute Devante Rodney, on for Oates, put the ball into the area and defender Jack Holland sliced over his own bar under pressure.

The visitors, FA Trophy finalists after seeing off Gateshead and Spennymoor in the last two rounds, were more compact in the second half, denying Pools space and winning the majority of second balls.

Advantage was regained on 64 minutes. Adams crossed, Rodney knocked the ball into the path of Michael Woods and the midfielder smashed home confidently from 12 yards.

It was his ninth goal of the season.

The goal restored Pools’ mojo as they upped their workrate to harass the opposition again.

The visitors didn’t like it in the North-East, always twisting and looking for cheap free-kicks. Luke Wanadio, wearing gloves, wasn’t happy with being marked by Blair Adams, hardly Pools’ most physical player, and he soon swopped flanks before being taken off.

Then it was the turn of Mekki to go down under pressure, much to the annoyance of Woods and the Mill House monkey run.

Hawkes was replaced at the end, after going down with cramp, Jack Munns back on the pitch for five minutes added time.