Reid easing his way back to fitness

GET STUCK IN . . . Reuben Reid epitomises Athletic’s fighting spirit at Hartlepool.

STRENGTH sapped and will exhausted, Athletic's players were at last able to exchange smiles and jokes as they left the field following the warm-down at Hartlepool.

In defeats at home to Scunthorpe and Yeovil and at Stevenage and Rochdale, the enemy of Athletic's ambition has been both their own deficiencies at vital times and terrible decisions made by match officials.

Neither of those factors was present at Victoria Park on Tuesday.

Striker Reuben Reid admitted he didn't have any special enthusiasm before the game. Once on the field, though, a non-stop display was emulated by his cool-headed team-mates.

"It was important to break the mould," said Reid.

“We fought together as a team and it was satisfying.”

Reid's start at Victoria Park was only his third since making a comeback from a thigh injury.

“I don't want a relapse,” he admits. “I am playing within myself in terms of sprinting around but I think I can adapt my game. Hopefully I can be in the right place to pick up a goal or two up as well."