BEN Clark admits Hartlepool United have to shake off their inconsistency if they are to push for the top of League Two.

After three high-scoring wins in September, Pools lost at Lincoln on Friday night to start the new month off with a defeat.

Danny Wilsons side started confidently at Sincil Bank, but were caught on the counter attack and succumbed to the side who are now third in the table.

And Clark admitted: Weve had a good run and if we can get another good run of results going, we are confident of being where it matters come May.

Straight after the game we were looking ahead at the games to come. We dont want to be a yo-yo team, we want to be consistent. The gaffer said that teams who keep losing games and dropping points dont win things.

We want to be consistent and keep picking up the sort of results we have had of late.

The performance against Shrewsbury came from nowhere and at Lincoln it was a bit the same C and its all down to inconsistency.

Maybe this will give us a kick up the backside and prove we have to keep working hard, working hard on the training ground and show the manager we are capable of bouncing back from this defeat.

Pools have to wait until Saturday for their next game, when Stockport County visit Victoria Park.

And Clark acknowledged: It was very disappointing the other night, because we have been on a good run.

We hope this result was a one-off. Weve been on a great run of results and form and everyone went home disappointed C the past few weeks weve been going home on the bus really happy.

Now its about how we react on Saturday. Its a long break to the next game, we were saying that in the changing room at Lincoln.

Its been a tough month for us all and I think we would gladly have taken the sort of month we have just had.

But we cant C and wont C rest on our laurels, its just disappointing that our run has ended like it has. Losing to Lincoln meant the gap between us and the teams above stays there and this was our chance to close it down.

Ritchie Humphreys was Port Vales top performer in yesterdays home defeat to Rotherham in the last game of his month-long loan at Vale Park. Wilson will decide today if Humphreys will return to Victoria Park or remain on loan.

Vale boss Martin Foyle wants to keep the player C who watched Pools play on Friday C for a further two months.

Darren Williams suffered a calf injury in making a tackle at Sincil Bank and could be sidelined for a couple of weeks.

He will be assessed this morning.

Gary Liddle missed out on the League Two player of the month award for September. It went to Lincolns Mark Stallard, who scored four goals in the month.

Pools Jon Daly C seven goals in three games C wasnt nominated, but he was yesterday named The League Papers player of the month.