National League team of the season: Do any Hartlepool United players make the cut?

Macauley Bonne of Leyton Orient was the top marksman in the division (Getty).

It feels like a lifetime ago since Hartlepool United closed up the season with an emphatic home win over now League Two side Salford City.

But given some quiet consideration, our Pools writer Liam Kennedy has eventually got around to doing his National League team of the season.

Do any Hartlepool players make the cut? Here's his 1-11, with five subs to boot.

LIAM KENNEDY'S NATIONAL LEAGUE TEAM OF THE SEASON (3-4-3)

Goalkeeper - Luke Southwood - Eastleigh

Put in easily the best individual performance of the season against Hartlepool earlier this year in a defeat on the south coast.

Only spent the second half of the season, from Boxing Day, on loan at the Spitfires from Reading but did more than enough to show he's got a bright future in the game.An Under-20 World Cup winner with England, as understudy to Newcastle's Freddie Woodman, two years ago.

Defender - Carl Piergianni - Salford City

A big strong defender with the right amount of needle in his game to see that he'd walk into any side at this level and probably even above.

Left one on Luke James on the final day, but you could tell he was just letting the Pools man know he meant business.

Defender - Shaun Pearson - Wrexham

At 30, he's no spring chicken and has been around the non-league block a long time.

But this season he was an absolute tower of strength at the heart of a defence which proved to be one of the leanest in the National League.

Defender - Marvin Ekpiteta - Leyton Orient

A big, strong defender who made his breakthrough year in 2018/19.

An England C cap came his way this year after some impressive shows helped guide the O's to the National League title.

Midfielder - Craig Eastmond - Sutton United

London-born, London-trained. You can take the boy out of Arsenal, but football rarely beats Arsenal out the boy.

Oozes class, goes both ways and scores goals, too. A class above this level.

Midfielder - Darren Carter - Solihull Moors

The former Sunderland and Birmingham City midfielder is in the autumn of his footballing career but strolls through games at this level.

A joy to watch him run a game from the middle, while the rest of the Solihull team does the physical stuff for him.

Midfielder - Jobi McAnuff - Leyton Orient

A distinguished career, which has included spells at West Ham, Watford, Wimbledon, Crystal Palace and others finally looks to be coming to an end at Orient.

Rewarded with a new contract after promotion, McAnuff was a leader on the park and off it in their promotion charge. He was one of the stand outs last year, even during Orient's struggles.

At 37 the Jamaica international still looks like he's got more to give, out wide or tucked in the middle.

Midfielder - Luke James - Hartlepool United

I know what you're thinking, James is no midfielder.

But he could easily slot in out wide in a four - and the strikers are just too good, with too many goals to leave out.