MICKY Nelson may have found a new route out of Hartlepool United - as a striker.

The big defender, who submitted a transfer request a fortnight ago, played in an unfamiliar forward role as Pool won at Carlisle last night and he caused the home side problems aplenty.

Pool have long sought a target man and, if Nelson and his agent change their tune, Neale Cooper may have found one within his ranks.

Last night's win - Pool's sixth League, Cup and pre-season friendly victory at Brunton Park in succession - put them into the third round of the LDV Vans Trophy.

But it also gave Cooper plenty of food for thought and Nelson - if he is still at Victoria Park - might stay up front against Doncaster at the weekend.

He might have felt the pace in the second period, but Cooper's experiment certainly worked.

The match began with Dimi Konstantopoulos coming out to strongly fist away a Chris Lumsdon free-kick, which was curled into the danger area.

Otherwise the only early talking point was Pool's switch around.

They started with three at the back - Nelson included - but with a full 160 seconds gone he was up front with Eifion Williams as Pool went to a flat back four.

The big Greek goalkeeper then stood tall to grab a looping header from under his bar as Carlisle, with ex-Pool favourite Paul Arnison in a central midfield role, set the early pace.

The Cumbrians were screaming for a penalty when Chris Billy's shot from the edge of the area was charged down and blocked by Chris Westwood.

Paul Simpson's side have started their Nationwide Conference season in style and they took the confidence into last night's game as they pressed Pool at every opportunity, chasing and harrassing from the off.

Pool's first chance came when Matty Robson swung over a tidy cross and Nelson, at the near post, stretched but missed when a dive in the ball's direction could have brought rewards.

At odds of 50-1 for the opening goal, those in the know who backed him might have been celebrating a tidy return.

Cooper was furious after Pool wasted two corners in swift succession, passing the ball into the area and straight to a blue shirt instead of finding the danger area.

From their third corner - won when Nelson was robbed at the near post as he shaped to volley - Joel Porter forced keeper Kieren Westwood into a diving save.

New loan signing Lewis Goburn came on at the break on the right wing and quickly had the home defence back-pedalling with his pace.

But that was the only time he really looked a threat as the pace of the game caught out the Wolves reserve winger.

Just as he had in the first half, Nelson stretched and failed to touch home a dangerous ball into the area.

Konstantopoulos made a fine save, blocking Andy Preece's attemped finish with his legs when the striker got behind the defence.

The big Greek then saw Preece flash a low shot wide across the far post after finding too much space on the left.

Nelson was enjoying himself up front and again went close, thumping a header at keeper Westwood from ten yards.

But when Pool took the lead it came thanks to substitute David Foley.

The striker, as diminutive as they come, barged full-back Brian Shelley off the ball out wide and laid the ball off for Sweeney to confidently net from the edge of the area.

Preece took a free-kick 20 yards out and when it deflected off Foley it looked like the Greek was wrong-footed. But he twisted his gigantic frame to keep it out with his legs.

Deep into stoppage time, Williams curled a delightful shot against the far post with keeper Westwood beaten and somehow it stayed out.