OUT with the old and in with the new. Leaving the decade and it’s all about the start and the finish; how the 10s started and how they ended.

Hartlepool United began 2010 with a win over Oldham to move into 11th in League One. They end the most miserable of decades in 15th in the National League, following a 2-2 draw with Barrow.

How the not so mighty have fallen.

The 70s and 80s were bleak at the Victoria Ground. But at least they were expected to be bleak, dark humour reigned and Pools were honest and stout. Limited and skint, but happy and competitive.

Now they have become a different beast. The pride and passion remains, the desire to get back to where they belong is strong. But what has gone at this club over the last ten years is shameful.

It’s now over to Dave Challinor to do what anyone of Pools 12 other managers in ten years have managed and lift the club.

He knows the division, understands what it takes to achieve success in the National League and has been privy to the good and bad of Pools in the seven weeks he’s been in charge.

This was a decent one from Pools. Far better than previous when they were thumped at Harrogate. But is a draw against Barrow really cause for a Pools celebration? Unfortunately it is now. A decade ago it was about facing Leeds, Norwich, Southampton and Huddersfield.

Barrow sit top of the table, Pools treading water in 15th. Against a well-drilled, athletic and mobile side, Pools had to match the Bluebirds. The five changes made by Challinor to his side made a difference, although the static Fraser Kerr produced another moment when he allowed a long ball to drift in behind him as the visitors scored their second.

With Ben Killip culpable for the opening goal conceded, and Kerr at fault for the second, Pools will always be hamstrung as long as those mistakes continue.

Challinor said: “It’s tough as a goalkeeper. The nature of football is you don’t need to be told when you make a mistakes. Goalkeepers and defenders making mistakes and more often than not it ends up in your goal.

“What happened today is as a group we have pulled him out of the trouble a bit. Mistakes are part and parcel of the game. From a confidence side, as a group, people have to learn. People will give their opinion in a dressing room. You almost come to a situation when people play well and make saves it becomes unnoticed.

“It’s a tough one. How do they react? Mistakes have been made, but they’ve not cost us. It would have been unmerited if mistakes cost us and we got nothing in the game.’’

Dimi Konstantopoulos has not been training with Pools since his poor performance in the FA Trophy defeat at Harrogate two weeks ago. “He’s been away for Christmas I think,” said Challinor, while Joe Parkinson, Pools coach, said last week the Greek suffered a rib injury on his outing.

As well as changing personnel, and quite rightly after the Boxing Day humbling, Challinor also altered the system. The 3-5-2 matched up the opposition, whose manager admitted it was something of a compliment.

The best player on the pitch was one of those recalled. Gavan Holohan scored one, set up the other.

To be fair, he set the tone in the first half. A Gary Liddle pass into space was probably 60-40 in the opposition’s favour. Holohan chased, slid in, won the ball and came away with it.

How the Neale Cooper Stand appreciated it, especially after the North West Corner was subdued thanks to some draconian stewarding and a heavy-handed edict from the club’s chief executive about safety fears.

A little bit of common sense goes a long way. It is to be hoped the issue is handled better on New Year’s Day.

The second-half was 43 seconds old when the visitors took the lead.

That Pools levelled was thanks to a superb strike from distance by Holohan, the sort of shot that’s in as soon as the ball is hit.

After missing a number of good openings, Pools trailed, but came back again. This time Holohan was the only player to want the ball from a throw in, he got into the area and hung up a fine deep cross for Ryan Donaldson to head in.

In the end, Pools needed a well-timed tackle in the penalty area from Peter Kioso, being watched by Coventry ahead of the January transfer window, to keep the point.

Holohan was in the side and performing well at the time of Challinor’s appointment, but a niggling back injury took him out of the side. Playing like this and the Irishman can’t be left out.

“I spoke to Gav before Boxing Day,’’ said Challinor. “It’s circumstances with him. He was in the team and scoring and playing well, then injuries cost him in training and in games.

“We have had to be careful with him. We would have made changes anyway on Saturday and this was an opportunity for some to show what they can do. Lads who miss out, it’s about showing what they can do to get back.’’