ADAM Boyd was quick to pay tribute to strike-partner Joel Porter, after the pair again combined to devastating effect on Saturday.

The pair both scored in Hartlepool's 5-1 win at Wrexham and Pool have scored 17 goals in their last five games.

"We played some really good football on the break,'' said Boyd.

"Me and Joel linked up well and I like playing up front with him. He's very unselfish and I know he will pass to me plenty of times in good positions.

"He works hard and we are starting to see the real Joel Porter now. He's playing for 90 minutes and is playing really well.

"He has settled in really well and, for the last five or six weeks, he's been outstanding - let's hope it continues.''

He added: "I think a few of our first-half performances away from home have merited us winning, but it just hasn't happened until this.

"That was especially the case at Walsall the other week, we had a few chances but only went in 1-0 and were made to pay. Thankfully, we got a few more this time and it has gone our way.

"It was a clinical performance, we had something like seven or eight chances and put five of them away, which isn't a bad thing.''

Boyd signed a new contract on Friday to stay at Victoria Park and admitted staying at his hometown club is the perfect Christmas present.

"I'm very happy to sign a new contract,'' he said "It's out of the way now and done, so I can concentrate on my football again.

"It puts an end to the speculation because I was going to be out of contract in the summer, but I just want to play for the club and do well.

"That's all there is to it. It's been a great year for me, I've played a lot of games and scored goals, so I can be pleased with it.

"Let's hope it can continue into next year as well.

Saturday's win ended a run of eight successive away league defeats and delighted boss Neale Cooper revealed the luck of the Irish rubbed off on his side.

"We changed our preparation a little bit,'' he said.

"We arrived at the ground a bit later, around 2 o'clock and the boys were bubbly on Saturday morning.

"I had one of those Irish stones with me, nothing massive, just a little Blarney Stone.

"Someone got me it from Ireland and I had it with me. I've had it a while, but it's the first time I've had it at a game with me.

"I'll be making sure I bring it with me every away game now!''

* Tickets are selling well for Wednesday's England v Scotland under 18 game and fans are advised by the club to buy them in advance.

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