CHRIS Westwood might have a new phone number to add to his friends and family list.

Goals for the Hartlepool United defender are a rare commodity, but he might just have found the secret to scoring success.

Two goals this season, his latest being the opener in a five-goal thriller with Bournemouth at Victoria Park, have followed a conversation with a fellow member of the union of defenders.

A phone call to former Scotland defender Martin Buchan might soon become a regular pre-match ritual for Westwood.

During his playing days for Aberdeen and Manchester United, Buchan scored 13 times in 534 games - Westwood's goal tally stands at five in 228 League games for Pool.

On average, Buchan scored once every 41 games, Westwood's record is one every 46 games. One goal a season is his average, this year he's got two already.

It's hardly the sort of statistics to threaten Alan Shearer or Thierry Henry, but something magical must be rubbing off.

"Someone had me at first scorer at 80-1,'' said Westwood. "I think the prices will be coming down every week after that!

"But to be honest, there is a story behind it.

"There's a man at the PFA (Professional Footballers Association) called Martin Buchan. He rang me on Thursday and we were talking about a couple of things.

"Then he says 'you're due a goal this week, aren't you?'. He said the last time we spoke I scored the next game at Oldham.

"So that was it, I was always going to score this week. And I'm going to ring him on Thursday - 'Hiya Martin, it's Westy, how you doing? I'm just ringing for nothing, just to have a chat like because we know what's going to happen now'.

"I said to a few people on Friday that I was going to score this week - but then again, I probably say that every week.''

Westwood's last goal came at Oldham on September 11 when his long range daisycutter rolled apologetically into the net.

"I scored at Oldham and the shot had so much on it, it deceived the keeper! This one seemed to take ages to drop into the net,'' he said.

"To be honest, I don't think Strachs (Gavin Strachan) meant to knock the corner where he did. I told Nelse (Micky Nelson) I was going to run around the back, but instead, with the way the ball came in, I went across the defender and caught him out.''

And it was from Westwood's cross that Nelson headed in the equaliser to set up arguably the most dramatic ending to a game of football Victoria Park has ever seen.

"No-one came at me, so I just swung it over and found Nelse,'' he said. "We put him up front to cause problems and they dragged someone back to mark him, they were defending for their lives.

"When I crossed it, I didn't think the goal would come from it, I was thinking someone would pick up the second ball after Nelse won the header.

"I think it would have been really unfair if we had lost. We came off at half-time losing 2-1 and they had had three shots and scored from two.

"From their point of view, they will be happy with it, but we were disappointed.

"I think if the referee had hung on a little bit he could have given the goal instead of the penalty because it might have been us who lost out.

"But credit to Andy Appleby, that's why the gaffer has put him in, he's the fox in the box isn't he?''

Appleby's arrival in the 74th minute was the start of a period of organised chaos because this was the game that had everything; in the last few minutes at least.

If Pool can put it out on DVD ahead of Christmas, they will be onto a winner. People will want to see it again, just to make sure it really did end like this with:

- Nelson's 88th minute equaliser

- Appleby's disallowed injury time winning strike

- Adam Boyd's missed injury time penalty

- Appleby's legitimate winner in stoppage time

Westwood opened the scoring, with his first Victoria Park goal since scoring in the 90th minute of a 2-1 defeat to Macclesfield in March 2002.

But, despite starting so well and dominating the first 30 minutes, Pool were behind at the break.

First Derek Holmes fired The Cherries level, able to have the pick of the goal, after a spot of penalty box pinball.

Then, right on half-time, Dimi Konstantopoulos was caught out by Wade Elliott's cross and Brian Stock netted, despite the best efforts of Micky Barron on the line.

As the second period wore on, Pool started to exert more and more pressure.

By the time Nelson levelled, Pool's formation consisted of Barron and Westwood in defence, Mark Tinkler in midfield and a forward line of seven.

And who wouldn't have taken a point then? But sit back and be content? Pool were having none of it.

Appleby turned past Martin Cranie, dinked the ball over keeper Neil Moss, and Pool had the game won. Advantage Pool.

Or so they thought.

Referee Carl Boyeson stopped play, a free-kick against Appleby 99 per cent of Victoria Park assumed. Advantage Bournemouth.

Instead, it was a penalty. Boyeson had apparently blown before Appleby's cool finish. Advantage Pool.

Boyd took the penalty, hit it low and Moss saved. Advantage Bournemouth.

Yet Pool, angered by the decision to chalk off the goal, kept going and were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Last season at the Fitness First Stadium, an injury time Strachan free-kick was curled home to earn Pool a draw.

So The Cherries put players on each post to keep it out. Strachan this time curled it low around the wall and Appleby, unmarked six yards out, turned it in.

Game, set and match to Pool.

Result: Hartlepool United 3 Bournemouth 2.

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