Manager Paul Doswell paid tribute to Sutton United's team spirit after the U's recorded an impressive 3-2 win at Hartlepool on Saturday.

On a blustery day in the north-east, United took the lead in the 22nd minute through Aswad Thomas but found themselves behind just five minutes into the second half.

Tom Bolarinwa restored parity with a low shot from 10 yards on 63 minutes.

Then, with 10 minutes remaining, Aaron Drinan's clever flick fell invitingly into the path of Craig Eastmond who curled home a superb shot from 20 yards to pinch the points.

"It was a great reaction from the players," said Doswell. "I just said to them in the dressing room, that's how close they are together. They keep fighting.

“We showed great character to go from leading, to five minutes into the second half being 2-1 down with that severe wind against us.

"Most people would have thought we wouldn't have gone on to win that game.

"We scored two very, very good goals. A great goal for Tom. It was a great move with a nice pass slipped in by Jonah [Ayunga].

"And then Easty (Eastmond) comes up with a left foot, a 20-yarder, which I'm not sure I've seen in all his Sutton appearances before."

After finishing 12 places behind the U's last season, Hartlepool are much improved this term under manager Matthew Bates but the way United handled the conditions as well as their opponents was also hugely satisfying for Doswell.

"We defended against that wind, which makes you sit deep but I thought on the counter we looked dangerous," said the Sutton boss.

“I said after 35 minutes that we needed two goals because that's how big this wind was and that's what a difference it was going to make.

"We didn’t get it, but we had a three or four half chances in those last 10 minutes.

"They are a team who have lost only once here this season, so we knew is was going to be tough.

“Liam Noble’s set-pieces are a threat and their goals both came from them.

"I am pleased for Easty. It was nice for him to come up with the winner, especially after what happened to him up here last year."

The win see the U's leapfrog Hartlepool into eighth place in the National League going into Tuesday's clash at home to 19th-placed Chesterfield.