Pools make Scarborough rock in away day victory

But that is exactly what Pools did in this incredible triumph at Scarborough. And yet it all started so badly.

Home defender Gary Bennett put Scarborough ahead and Jody Ritchie made it 2-0 with just 27 minutes gone when he curled in an unstoppable shot.

But the Pools manager had asked for commitment and he got it.

Steve Howard brought the match back into reach when he scored with an excellent glancing header from Mark Cooper’s cross just nine minutes before the break.

Pools were now pressing for an equaliser and Halliday went close when he was set free on the edge of the area by Barron’s intelligent ball.

He set himself well but the resulting shot ended up going straight at the relieved home keeper Ironside who saved first with his legs and then gathered the ball in.

Halliday had a second golden opportunity when he latched on to a bouncing ball inside the area, only to send his shot high over the bar.

An exhange of yellow cards followed before Pools got the equaliser they deserved on 58 minutes.

Clegg was brought down by Lucas on the right and the resultant free kick was cleared to the edge of the box where Beech drove a shot through a crowd of players.

Clegg deflected the ball in the opposite direction and Ironside was left helpless in the Scarborough goal.

Hislop became Pools fourth booking of the game on 63 minutes but his afternoon turned to joy four minutes later when he provided the cross into the six-yard box which eventually fell to Halliday.

He took his time before smashing the ball into the top of the net from 10 yards.

The Pools fans were still cheering when Hislop again picked up the ball wide of the left and lobbed the ball into the middle where Halliday got between Hanby and Ironside, took a first touch and finished the move with a goal from a tight angle.

Pools were so determined not to let their lead slip that they picked up a fifth booking in their desperation not to concede.

But nothing was going to stop them from securing a great win.

Hartlepool: O’Connor, Lee, McAuley, Beech, Barron, McGuckin, Clegg, Cooper, Howard, Halliday, Hislop. Subs; Allon, Tait, Irvine.

Scarborough: Ironside, Kay, Lucas, Bennett, Hicks, Thompstone, McElhatton, Brooks, Mitchell, Ritchie, Williams. Subs: Bochenski, Hanby, Worrell.

Referee: AR Leake (Darwin).