TOPB1NS
English National League •3 October 2026 •KO 15:00
Hartlepool United badge
Hartlepool United
15:00
Tamworth
Tamworth badge
FORM
L L L L L
#22
PTS: 9 GD: -8
PLAYED: 11
#20
PTS: 11 GD: -9
PLAYED: 11
FORM
L L W L W

Hartlepool United v Tamworth

Pete Wild takes charge of Hartlepool United for the first time on Saturday as Pools welcome Tamworth to Victoria Park looking to end a run of five successive National League defeats.

Wild was appointed Hartlepool’s new head coach on Thursday, succeeding Lee Clark following his resignation last month. Adam Clayton and Gary Liddle had overseen the first team on an interim basis, including Tuesday’s 1-0 home defeat by Harrogate Town.

That result extended Hartlepool’s losing run to five league matches. Pools have also been beaten by Kidderminster Harriers, Altrincham, Worthing and Scunthorpe United during that sequence, conceding 13 goals and scoring four.

Tuesday’s defeat was tighter than several of those recent results. Bailey Hobson scored the only goal for Harrogate ten minutes after half-time, while Hartlepool created opportunities through Charlie Thornton, Will Harris and Jordan Hugill but were unable to find an equaliser.

Tamworth arrive having responded to a 5-1 defeat at Aldershot with a 2-0 home victory over Sutton United on Wednesday. Keiran Donnelly converted a rebound shortly after half-time before an Emmanuel Osadebe own goal doubled the lead five minutes later.

The Sutton victory was Tamworth’s third of the league season and also delivered their first clean sheet. The Lambs have scored in all 11 of their National League matches, although their 28 goals conceded remains the highest total in the division.

Recent meetings favour Hartlepool, who are unbeaten in the last five encounters between the clubs. Pools won 1-0 at Tamworth in August 2024 before the next four meetings finished level, including 1-1 draws at Victoria Park and The Lamb Ground last season.

Hartlepool begin the weekend 22nd with nine points from 11 matches, having won three and lost eight. Tamworth are two places and two points above them after three wins, two draws and six defeats.

Wild’s arrival provides a new backdrop to a Hartlepool side searching for its first points since beating Worthing on 19 September. Tamworth travel north having ended their own difficult September with a victory and a first clean sheet of the campaign.

Edgy Eddie

TopB1ns Edge

By Edgy Eddie

Right then, let’s get stuck into this National League clash at Victoria Park. Hartlepool United hosting Tamworth. The Pools are struggling, frankly, with five straight defeats and a real goal drought. They’re up against a Tamworth side that’s a bit of a mixed bag, but they have been scoring.

Looking at the odds, Hartlepool are favourites at 2.20, but the TopB1ns Edge sees value in them snatching a win here. Now, this is where it gets interesting. The TopB1ns Edge is also strongly backing Both Teams to Score at 1.53. Considering Tamworth’s scoring run and Hartlepool’s desperation to finally hit the back of the net, this looks like a solid shout.

On the Over/Under front, the TopB1ns Edge is predicting Over 0.5, Over 1.5, and Over 2.5 goals. This suggests a game that should open up, with goals at both ends. However, it then flips to Under 3.5, 4.5, and so on. This implies the TopB1ns Edge fancies a few goals, but not an absolute goal fest. So, a 2-1 or 3-1 kind of scoreline might be on the cards. Keep an eye on that BTTS bet, it’s screaming value.