Moore thrilled with spirit

Ronnie Moore hailed his Hartlepool side's "gutsy" display in the crucial 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon at Victoria Park.

A 73rd-minute strike from on-loan Cambridge forward Ryan Bird was enough to separate the two sides, with victory pushing Pools to within six points of safety. The game was not a classic but Moore was thrilled with his side's fighting qualities. "The gutsy nature pleased me," said Moore. "The first half wasn't good and there wasn't a lot for our fans to get excited about. "We had to win and it's no good coming off 0-0. "Jack Compton delivered the ball - I wouldn't say a perfect ball - but one goal was always going to win it. "The spirit and commitment was good and if we made the right decision on the break, we could have had more." Bird arrived at the club on Wednesday and got life in the north-east off to a dream start by netting on his debut. And his clinical display delighted his new boss. Moore added: "Ryan had one chance, a ball drilled at him, and he put it away. "It was a tight game and nice to get the winning goal." The only sour note of the afternoon for the hosts was the injury to midfielder Michael Woods, who was stretchered off early in the second half. Woods left the field in a leg brace and the Pools boss said he feared he may have dislocated his ankle. Moore added: "Woodsy, there is talk about a dislocated ankle, but we don't know yet. "He's been positive for us." Dons boss Neal Ardley was left fuming with his side's display. Ardley said: "(I'm) very, very angry and disappointed. "We have been in good form of late and today I felt we were poor. (There was) not enough energy from minute one. "Our game management was poor against a team scrapping for their lives on a poor pitch. "We didn't do anything the game needed at any point. "It was a nothing game and a stupid moment from us when we aren't set (and) out of shape and within three passes the ball is in the net. "Then we chased the game poorly and they were defending for their lives. "We had no energy, no intensity and it wasn't good enough."