EIFION Williams has needed a goal, Hartlepool United a lift.

And the striker's first strike in 13 games might have given his team a huge boost on Saturday.

Pool have won just once in nine as a 14-point lead has been reduced to one, Williams failing to score since finding the net at Macclesfield on January 21.

But when the striker scored deep into stoppage time on Saturday, it may have provided just the spark Pool need to relight their championship push.

By 4.45 on Saturday, Pool were second in the table for the first time in 2003. Rushden had won at Bristol Rovers while the Great Underachievers were trailing at Kidderminster.

Cue Williams. His introduction for the ineffective Gordon Watson had led to derisory calls from supporters aimed at boss Mike Newell. Then his late goal had the same Pool fans rejoicing as they clung onto top spot.

Promotion should be secured at home to Orient on Saturday, but their team hasn't played like a title-winning team for a while now. They should have had the League all but sewn up by now; Rushden's results should be irrelevant, not causing fingernails chewed to the bone.

The one win in eight - against Southend - wasn't a convincing display, the last decent show was the second half against Darlington on March 1. That run has yielded just six points from a possible 24, while during that time Rushden have raked in 17 points.

Once again Pool made an ordinary team look good and allowed a far from special outfit take the initiative.

At Bristol Rovers a fortnight back it was the same story when it again took the visitors an hour to start playing anything like the football they have played for the majority of the campaign.

When they started to play, they created enough chances to earn a point, even if it was left a little late.

As the home defence switched off, Dion Scott's screwed header was latched onto by the Williams and he confidently drilled home. Seeing his finish you wouldn't think he was a striker struggling in front of goal.

"Yes, we had a bit of luck in the game, but in terms of performance we were well off the pace,'' said Newell.

"I don't know what it is but we haven't started a game well for the last three, four or five games now and it's something we'll have to seriously look at.

"We've got a good squad of players and there's nothing drastic we need to do. I think the bonus for us is that we got back into the game and came off with a point. We needed something to happen for Eifion, but he's not the first striker to go through a bad spell - myself included.

"It can be worse than that for a player, but all you have to do is keep working as a player and it will eventually come to you.

"You can persevere with people because you know that have goals in them or they are working hard and all the rest of it and getting chances but they won't go in, but then there comes a time when you have to say he needs a breather and try to see if it makes a difference to them.

"Ideally you don't want them coming off the bench during the game desperate to score goals."

And he added: "To be honest the first-half performance was really poor again and it took us too long to start playing our game. I don't know why, it might be nerves subconciously but we don't know. They are not the side they were a few weeks ago or playing with the same confidence they were.''

In a first-half for Pool a million miles away from what they are capable of, Darrell Clarke wasted the best chance, steering the ball straight at keeper Stuart Brock with the goal gaping.

Bo Henriksen hit the bar before the Dane scored the opener, the scrappiest of goals, touching the ball past Williams as the Pool defence and goalkeeper failed to clear. Five minutes on and Pool were two behind.

Chris Westwood misread a high ball and paid the price for standing the wrong side of his opponent when Andrew Bishop stood goal side to fire a volley beyond keeper Williams.

Pool could have been three behind right on half-time and if they were it would have been game over. Paul Smith tried to head back to his keeper and when it landed far from its intended target Bishop latched onto it and fired against Williams' legs.

But when Eifion Williams came on, Pool looked a different team. They had someone holding the ball up and gave the midfielders someone to put their belief in.

Clarke put his earlier indiscretion to bed when he volleyed in when Paul Arnison's free kick found its way across goal, Kevin Henderson fired at Brock and the keeper followed it up with a save from Mark Tinkler with his legs and was racing off his line to smother a Henderson effort.

The goal Williams craved shouldn't be understated. It kept Pool on top, it could keep them there for the last five games.

Hartlepool United, with three home games from five remaining fixtures, it's over to you.

Result: Kidderminster Harriers 2 Hartlepool United 2.

Read more about Hartlepool here.