Hartlepool United’s Honorary President Jeff Stelling admits that Pools will be unstoppable if they can replicate their first half performance against Bromley.

Pools were 3-0 up at half time against Bromley in a storming first half at Victoria Park as the game eventually ended 3-2.

Dave Challinor’s side go to Chesire tomorrow to battle it out with Stockport County for a place in the National League play-off final.

Stelling will be in attendance at the game alongside Pools owner Raj Singh and the lifelong Pools fan has in confident mood about Pools chances at Edgeley Park.

“I’ve just got a feeling in my bones about this” Stelling admitted.

“I’ve waited since 2004/2005 to go to a play-off game. I went to Bromley last week and that was the first one since the Sheffield Wednesday play-off final.

“I just felt like if we play like we did in those first 45 minutes then we would be unstoppable.

“I know it’s a different game. We’ll be away from home and we haven’t got our crowd behind us but that 45 minutes was the best 45 minutes I’ve seen from a Hartlepool United side in many years.

“If we can replicate that, I just feel it could be our day.

“It’s a tough place to go. They’re in the middle of a brilliant run.

“Simon Rusk, the manager, was there last week with Mark McGhee and they were very confident before the game when I spoke to them. They felt we’d win against Bromley but they felt, very much, that they would go on and beat us.

“But at half time, I just thought I detected a bit of colour had drained from their faces.”

Hartlepool United fans won’t be in attendance for the game with away supporters not permitted to spectate games with home venues.

Stelling and co won’t be able to match the noise of a couple of thousand Poolies but he says the fans have been given a huge lift by the teams performances this season.

“The fans have always been great, even the travelling fans, whether it be our years in the Football League or the National League.

“We always knew there was always a really good fanbase and they were desperate to come and back a winning team.

“You certainly sense a real change in the atmosphere now amongst those fans because there is a sense of expectation.

“If you’re Dave Challinor, that’s tough but he’s a big lad and he copes with it really well.

“It gives the fans a fantastic boost for the town.

“I harp back to 2004/2005. Any burglar could’ve had a field day in Hartlepool when the team was playing Sheffield Wednesday in Cardiff because everyone was there.

“I’m sure that if we get to the final, everybody, or as many as are allowed to be, will be in Ashton Gate. We will have no trouble whatsoever filling Ashton Gate in our allocation. We’ll have some of there’s as well please!

“It’s galvanised and united the town and it’s absolutely brilliant. If we could go all the way, that would be something people would never ever forget.”