JASON McATEER'S final memory of life at Sunderland was defeat in the play-offs and, after being given a sour taste of life at the home of the Black Cats' lower league east coast neighbours last night, he is on the verge of suffering more heartache at hometown club Tranmere.

The experienced campaigner's woe was down to a superb Hartlepool United that had two of League One's hottest talents contributing to a memorable success.

The ever-increasing stock of the undoubted striking talent of Adam Boyd increased yet again in front of the Sky cameras at a packed Victoria Park with two goals of Championship, if not Premiership, class.

And the seemingly endless running of team-mate Antony Sweeney from the middle of the pitch left the ageing and more simplistic play of McAteer way behind.

With 52 caps behind him, Tranmere's captain - beaten by Crystal Palace while at Sunderland a year ago - stopped breaking from the midfield with such regularity a few years ago and opts to play more of a defensive role these days. But the loveable rogue Scouser's approach to life had its comeuppance last night.

Thirty-four next month, yet McAteer has evidently not lost much of his youthful enthusiasm and playing games with the home crowd in the Mill House Stand over the positioning of a free-kick acted only as fuel to the fire in Pool's belly.

But the strong tackling of the hosts and the ingenuity of Boyd's feet ensured the hosts held the upperhand while the direct running of Sweeney was a constant menace.

It has been Sweeney's goals from midfield this season - his last of 15 came in the weekend 2-2 draw at Bournemouth that booked the final play-off place - that have kept Pool ticking along when the club's top scorer has been kept at bay.

Not since Tommy Miller moved to Ipswich in a £750,000 deal four years ago has the seaside town had a middle-man with such an eye for goal and at such a young age.

Sweeney's forward play, when he seems to be able to time his run into the box with such perfection, is not too dissimilar to the days when McAteer could run.

During the former Republic of Ireland international's days at Bolton he made a name for himself by delivering clinical strikes when the Trotters needed them most.

It was scintillating form during 1992-95 that persuaded Liverpool to come calling and pay £4.5m for his services.

There is no possibility of Sweeney moving on for a similar fee but he has certainly caught the eye of a number of Championship clubs but it could, incredibly, be with Pool that he begins life in that league come August.

Pool's free-scoring midfielder does not turn 22 until September and, under the tutelage of the man who developed his talent at youth team level - providing Martin Scott gets the manager's job full-time - his career looks to be destined for greater things.

It was in the play-offs 12 months ago - when Sweeney struck to put his side within a whisker of a Millennium Stadium place at Bristol City - came of age and has grown and grown ever since.

He may not have come close to scoring last night but his boundless energy was unmistakably waiting to be unleashed.

Interest in Sweeney will be high but it is his close friend off the pitch, Boyd, that should have many higher league bosses banging on their chairman's door this morning eager to write a cheque.

On numerous occasions Boyd's clever and precocious feet lit up the first leg and his 28th strike of the campaign just after the half hour mark added a few more pounds to his rising reputation.

Even the talismanic Alan Shearer, sat in the directors' box, must have been impressed by Boyd's unpredictable, while still a little erratic, play.

The 22-year-old had threatened to break the deadlock a couple of times before taking a touch and firing low beyond Rovers keeper John Achterberg.

And his second after the restart, when he proved he had a left foot by striking low into the corner, should ensure Pool have a testing summer ahead by trying to retain his services for next season - in League One or the Championship? Only time will tell.