Hartlepool United 3-1 Barrow: Pools relegated to National League despite win

Hartlepool United have been relegated to the National League after only two seasons back in the English Football League despite beating Barrow, who ended with eight men.

Pools needed to beat the Bluebirds and hope that Crawley lost to Walsall to take their survival hopes to the final day.

But although Hartlepool came from behind to win 3-1 Crawley's goalless draw with the Saddlers was enough to keep them up and send Pools down.

Ged Garner had put the visitors in front in the 21st minute but Hartlepool forward Jack Hamilton struck the equaliser on the stroke of half-time before full-back Jamie Sterry's goal with 22 minutes left was followed by Connor Jennings' stoppage-time strike.

Barrow had Harrison Neal sent off for a second yellow card following a late tackle on David Ferguson with 12 minutes left.

And the Bluebirds then lost Josh Gordon when he hobbled off before defender Patrick Brough was shown two yellow cards following a late melee among the two teams.

Garner was on hand six yards out to finish Gordon's ball in to put Barrow in front and he came close to scoring a second from Ben Whitfield's cross.

But Hartlepool hit back after that and, when Matty Dolan's turn and effort was blocked three minutes before the break, Hamilton was quick to pounce and fire high into Paul Farman's net.

After half-time, Hartlepool goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk denied Gordon before Callum Cooke, who hit the bar late on as well, went close from distance for the hosts.

Then Pools were rewarded in the 68th minute with Sterry's curling cross that missed the heads in the area and bounced straight in.

Barrow then lost Neal and Gordon before Hartlepool wrapped up victory during an eventful finish to the match.

Jennings controlled and rifled home a wonderful third for the hosts before Brough's tackle on Cooke led to pushing and shoving between most of the players.

Barrow boss Pete Wild and Hartlepool first-team coach Antony Sweeney were also yellow carded during the incident too.

Manager mistakes cost Pools dear

Relegation comes just two seasons after a resurgent Hartlepool returned to the English Football League after four years away, although the cracks appeared just months after promotion was assured.

Manager Dave Challinor, the architect of their promotion campaign culminating in play-off final victory over Torquay, was lured down a division to join Stockport.

At that stage they were 10th in League Two, and although Graeme Lee took them to the fourth round of the FA Cup and led the team on an eight-game unbeaten run between January and February 2022, they finished the season without a win in nine to end up 17th.

Lee was dispensed with before the season was out - getting the next appointment right was going to be crucial for Pools and, as it turned out, they got it completely wrong.

Former Hearts and Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley came in, but his stewardship only yielded one win in the Papa Johns Trophy and he was replaced by Keith Curle by mid-September.

Curle's bottom-tier experience at Notts County, Northampton and Carlisle let to little change in fortunes and with just six wins on the board, and former York boss John Askey was brought in to replace him in late February.

While he gave Pools hope with an eight-game unbeaten run between February and April, only two of those were wins.

The first defeat of his reign at Newport was followed by a damaging loss to Salford, and a 2-0 reverse in a six-pointer with Crawley was enough to all but condemn Pools to the drop.

The turnover of players brought a lack of continuity, with 22 signings and 10 loanees added to the squad between June 2022 and February 2023.

While there were some bright sparks, such Josh Umerah's form following a move from Wealdstone, Pools lacked goals throughout the team and conceded more than anyone else at the other end.

It was a recipe for relegation, despite Askey's best efforts, and will see Pools again battling to return to the EFL next season.

Owner and chairman Raj Singh has put Pools up for sale but says he will maintain his support during the process, and also said Askey - who is set to stay - will have a bigger budget than the one Challinor had back in 2020-21.

Match details supplied by PA Media