April 09, 2016
Billy Paynter 500 not out...
AS FAR as milestones and celebrations go, it couldn’t have been any better for Billy Paynter.
On his 500th career appearance, the Hartlepool United captain added two more goals to his tally, as Pools made it seven games without defeat.
Two penalties took his tally for the season to 15, as Pools made it 17 points from a possible 21.
"When I started off at 16, my main aim was just to get one appearance,’’ he said. "So 15 years down the line to get to 500, I'm really chuffed.
"I'm a young 31 and I want to be playing until my legs give in. Touch wood I've had no serious injuries."
While York City are sleepwalking to relegation, Pools are in their best form in years.
A month ago only two points separated Pools and the Minstermen. That gap now stands at 16. York have six games left, Pools eight.
There’s no need for the Great Escape to be played at Victoria Park on a matchday this season.
"While we are on this run, let's see how far we can take it,’’ said boss Craig Hignett.
"I want everything now geared to next season. I have my eye on Crawley, and Barnet, we're not too far away from them.
"Luton on 53 points? That might be a bridge too far. We only have one game in hand on them.
"Mansfield have 53 and we have two matches on them.
"But let's just look at the next one, see if we can catch them, then if we do, I'll look at the next one.
"I'm over the moon with the lads, my start in management could not have been any better really.
"That's all down to the lads and what we're trying to do.
"That's brilliant to see and rewarding for me to know that my ideas are working.
"I was always confident they would but actually seeing them work is fabulous."
It’s three years since Pools last went seven games without defeat, while on Saturday they conceded a goal for the first time in 492 minutes.
The structure to this Pools side under Hignett and Curtis Fleming is strong. And, when they come under long ball pressure – as they have in their last three games – they can stand up to it.
Granted they needed more heroics from Trevor Carson to keep them in front of a determined visting side.
He made two fantastic saves as Pools led 1-0, and then another at the end as they were 2-1 up.
The Stags went down to ten men when centre-half Krystian Pearce wiped out Nicky Featherstone in the area. The midfielder broke from deep, taking a slide-rule Billy Paynter pass to reach unchartered territory.
As he hesitated, Pearce decided to chop him down. His boss Adam Murray vowed to fine Pearce the maximum permitted for his actions.
Paynter swept in the spot kick. It then became all about Nathan Thomas, the former Mansfield winger.
Booed by his former supporters, Thomas celebrated the opener in front of the away end, and was grabbed by his former captain Lee Collins.
When he got the ball, there was always a sense something was going to happen. In the end, he was replaced after an hour, perhaps before referee Graham Salisbury listened to the moaning visitors and sent him off.
Hignett said: "It's always hard when you come up against your former team and I believe he got a bit of stick when he left.
"He has a bit of devil about him, but I love that, I'll never stop it or temper it. I had to have a chat at half-time.
"We scored a goal, he celebrated it, I don't see how he crossed a line.
"They might not have been happy because we scored, but his loyalty is with Hartlepool United.
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