JOEL Porter knew their was something special about the FA Cup when he watched Norman Whiteside curl Manchester United to victory in 1985.

The competition reaches far and wide and, as a six-year-old back home in Adelaide watching Ron Atkinson's side beat Everton, the Austrailan could only dream of taking part in the world's oldest knock-out competition.

Now part of Hartlepool United's squad ahead of today's home game with Boston, Porter is building up an FA Cup pedigree of his own.

His first goal in England came at Burton in last season's competition, a strike which took Pool to Sunderland's Stadium of Light in the next round.

This season, Porter scored in round one against Lincoln and was man of the match as Pool demolished Aldershot in round two.

"I fell in love with the FA Cup watching it as a boy back in Australia,'' he recalled. "Everyone dreams about playing in the competition. It's something you always hear about back in Australia.

"My first memories are watching Manchester United and Everton in the final in the 1980s.

"I like playing in the FA Cup. It's special for me.

"I have scored a couple of goals in the competition in the past and we enjoyed the competition last year.

"This is a good chance to get into the fourth round and we are all looking forward to it.''

Porter and Adam Boyd have become Pool's first-choice strike partnership this season.

The pair have bagged 25 goals between them and, as a result, Eifion Williams, Pool's leading scorer in the last two seasons, has taken up a right-wing berth.

Paul Ellender and Lee Beevers will be trying to keep tabs on the pair this afternoon and, despite a bit of inside information after Boyd spent time on loan at York Street last season, the defenders will have their work cut out.

"Boydy played for them last season, so they will know all about him, but he is playing especially well now,'' said Porter.

"His two goals on Monday were very good - but our first three were special as well.

"We are really in form right now and it's good playing up front with Boydy.

"We have a very good partnership, we understand each other's runs and movement and I think that shows in the games as we have scored so many goals between us.

"I've got nine this season, which is a nice total at the halfway stage, especially compared to last season, when I didn't get as many goals as I would have liked.''

Porter arrived at Pool in October 2003 but it's only now that he - and boss Neale Cooper - believe the Australian international has adapted to the rigours of the English game.

Last season, Porter netted five times - including the vital equaliser in the first leg of the play-offs with Bristol City - and the striker, who turned 26 on Christmas Day, admitted: "I think I am adjusting to the game over here a lot better now and the gaffer appreciates it.

"It's pleasing to get a good run in the side. We've had a big period of games and came through them well.

"Back home we get a few days off over Christmas, so it's certainly different for me now.

"We've had five games in nine days and it takes it's toll on the body, but it's coming good.

"We were offered a couple of days off this week because of our results, so we made the most of it before coming back in to prepare for Boston.''

Porter's goal on Monday came after MK Dons' keeper Matt Baker parried his second-half penalty.

His blushes at missing from the spot were spared as he knocked in the rebound and said: "With Boydy being off - and Tinks - Ben Clark wanted it but I wanted a go.

"Luckily enough the keeper spilled it and I put the second ball away. I suppose it looks better to score from open play anyway!''

The 5-0 win lifted Pool to fifth in League One and Porter added: "We were quite comfortable in the end, probably more comfortable than we thought to be honest.

"They beat us down there so we had a point to prove and that was a big part of the team talk.

"We didn't need firing up for the game and everything went well for us.

"It took a bit of time for us to get going because we have played a fair few games in a short space of time and our bodies have taken a bit of a battering of late.

"But once we warmed up and got the stiffness out of our legs, we got going.

"We've gone a few games unbeaten now. We had a meeting before Christmas when we said we had a lot of big games coming up and it was vital to get as many points as we could over the busy period.

"We've had three wins and two draws, which has been a fantastic return. It's been a great period for us and we still have one more game to go before this mini-campaign is finished.''

Pool eased past Boston's Lincolnshire rivals Lincoln 3-0 in round one and Steve Evans, whose side travelled to the North-East yesterday, said: "Lincoln manager Keith Alexander told me City got smashed and admitted Pool were a dangerous team.''

* Former Pool midfielder Tommy Widdrington has been transfer listed by Macclesfield.