It's the season to be jolly as Pool hit the heights

Yesterday's win over Oldham at Victoria Park was Pool's third victory in a row and puts them in fourth position, seven places better off than they were at the same stage last season.

That campaign ended in a play-off push, when a place in The Championship was within touching distance.

Home form was immense last season, just like it is this.

Before Boxing Day 2003, Pool had gone 28 games unbeaten at Victoria Park.

This season it's a run of 12 League One games unbeaten at home - 16 in all competitions - but the campaign promises much more.

They have taken 32 points from a possible 36 at home and, in 12 months, since losing to Barnsley, they have lost only three games in front of their own fans.

Yesterday it might have been affective rather than pretty, but you won't find Neale Cooper complaining.

The win came courtesy of two Adam Boyd penalties, both for needless fouls in the danger area.

The past 12 months have been the making of Boyd. Yesterday he took his seasonal total to 13 and he's bagged 29 in 2004.

From heading out of Pool when he was on loan at Boston, he's flourished into one of the club's most valuable commodities.

There was just six minutes gone - and the first time Pool got into the penalty area - when Tony Sweeney was tripped by defender Will Haining.

The centre-back went to ground as Sweeney foraged forward and was felled by his outstretched leg.

Boyd, who missed his last penalty against Bournemouth, thumped his spot kick low to the keeper's right.

After the game went quiet, a flurry of high balls bouncing about nulling proceedings, Pool's second penalty soon livened things up.

A firm pass from the back from Haining, aimed to the feet of Kevin Betsy, was well intercepted by the alert Micky Nelson and the only way to stop the marauding defender was by foul means.

Hugh Robertson floated the set-piece into the area and, after Nelson's flick, Westwood was ready to pounce until Betsy needlessly pulled him back.

Westwood might have been denied a chance to add to his blossoming goal tally, but Boyd wasn't going to turn down the chance to thump home his second spot kick in 16 minutes.

Pool were thankful to the swift reactions of goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos on 25 minutes.

Lee Croft's corner was diverted at goal by the head of Ritchie Humphreys and the big Greek stopper clawed the ball out of the top corner and Jack Ross cleared.

If Betsy didn't do himself any favours with his team-mates after switching off in the move which led to Pool's penalty and then giving away the spot kick, he didn't exactly endear himself to the home side either.

As he ran at Nelson, the one-time Pool loan signing took off and won a free-kick without the defender making contract.

Nelson was furious and a 15-man melee followed.

David Eyres took the free-kick and his shot was deflected away.

Eyres was the next to become exasperated with Betsy.

The striker broke away into the area, but, instead of squaring the ball across the penalty area for his team-mate, Betsy saw his name up in lights.

But his low shot had all the life and brightness of a smouldering candle and Konstantopoulos saved low.

The opening minutes of the second-half were important for Pool, they couldn't afford to give the visitors any encouragement.

John Eyres slid a shot from a tight angle into the side netting, but that was all they could muster.

Oldham had gone nine games unbeaten and, with the quality of Premiership loan signings Lee Croft, Neil Kilkenny and Mark Hughes, had moved away from the bottom of the table.

Referee Phil Prosser then managed to infuriate the Pool players twice in a minute.

First he ruled Joel Porter had fouled Holden as he won the ball deep in the Town End corner, then, as play broke to the other end, Ross kicked the ball against Eyres and a corner was given.

Tinkler was furious with the decisions and was booked for his protestations.

He gets punished for complaining, but what happens to the official? He'll probably be in the Premiership soon.

Pool then stepped up a gear and forced four corners in quick succession.

Porter twice almost managed a goal, first Holden deflected the ball out of his path, then the Oldham skipper deflected away his overhead kick.

But, from a free-kick awarded against Westwood on Eyre, Hughes sent the dead ball over to the far side and skipper Holden slid in to turn the ball past Konstantopoulos.

A minute later, Hughes thumped a shot at goal from 20 yards that clipped the top of the bar.

Perhaps the intervention of Humphreys put him off, the Pool skipper sliding in to close down his space as the trigger was bring pulled.

Pool were on the back foot for long periods now. They desperately needed to take the sting out of the game.

Boyd broke away and slithered past Haining but rolled his low shot across Pogliacomi and beyond the far post.

Still Oldham pressed and they won a corner on 80 minutes.

Tinkler headed away and, from the return ball, Nelson stood firm to clear.

Pool were hanging on for dear life in injury time. Konstantopoulos dropped a dangerous cross and, as Eyre was poised to tap into the empty net, Westwood blocked.

There was still time time for all hell to break loose.

Konstantopoulos took a cross and was kicked while on the ground.

Boxing Day ended in a bout of boxing - Dean Holden threw more punches than Danny Williams managed against Vitali Klitschko - but Pool held on.

Result: Hartlepool United 2 Oldham Athletic 1.

Read more about Hartlepool here.