ALMOST two years to the day and Antony Sweeney took a leaf out of Mark Tinkler's book, writes Nick Loughlin.

Tinkler netted a hat-trick as Hartlepool United beat Wrexham 4-3 and on Saturday it was Sweeney's turn to bag three from midfield.

Sweeney's triple-salvo took his season's tally to five as he returned to the Pool side following a three-game suspension.

Ritchie Humphreys and Paul Robinson have scored Victoria Park hat-tricks since Tinkler and the 21-year-old youth team product is fast gaining a reputation as a scoring threat from midfield.

Including his goal in the play-off semi-final at Bristol City last season, he's got six in 14 outings.

He admitted: "It was a bit different to my last game! The gaffer has shown some faith in me but putting me straight back in and it's nice to reward him.

"We had a great start, but let them back into the game and had to win it again in the last few minutes.

"We've hit back from what happened at Luton and to get an early goal was a dream start for the team.

"It was the ideal start. (Adam) Boyd was different class out there - that skill is the sort he does every day in training, but to bring it into a match as well is unbelievable.

"He did all the hard work and set me up nicely for it.

"The second goal was a great ball from the other side. I thought about lashing it in, but had the time and have a look and knocked it into the corner.

"For the third it was all about reacting. Steve Turnbull hit a great volley and it came back out from the keeper - luckily I was there. I've scored a hat-trick at junior levels before, but never anything more than that.''