CRAIG HIGNETT hailed the Never Say Die spirit of his Hartlepool United side after they secured a late victory over Yeovil.

Pools led 1-0 thanks to Gime Toure’s seventh goal of the season, a close-range finish on 47 minutes.

But an angled header from Rhys Murphy, a one-time Pools transfer target, levelled on 90 minutes.

In five minutes of added on time, Jason Kennedy netted from inside the six-yard area to secure a welcome and dramatic first win in six.

“As a manager to concede that late it was a kick in the guts – the belief and character to come back and win so late was fantastic,’’ said Hignett.

“If you can guarantee win a game like that it’s the best way.

“They equalise and you think it’s two points thrown away again. You can see what they have gone on a run, well organised and good at what they do. We stifled them and they abandoned their normal game because of our game plan.’’

He added: “If Ryan scored the header to make it two they have to throw men forward and we can then pick them off. When it’s one, they have a chance.

“Our problem has been not taking chances in front of goal. When we are we will score three and four. We can play on the break, possession football, go past people. Loads of ways to score.

“We’ve not put chances away we have created and that’s why we are where we are. We will get better, but we are only in October. I’m confident where we are and what we have got we will get stronger.

“We take confidence from it. Manipulate stats how you want – we have only lost two in ten, but we have drawn too many games. Refereeing decisions have gone against us and I hope they even up.’’

Pools officials and club stewards are investigating after goalkeeper Ben Killip had a padlock thrown at him from the away end as he celebrated Kennedy's late winner.