TALK about coming into form at the right time. Four wins in a row and, with only three games to go, it will take a collapse of West Indies batsmen proportions to keep Hartlepool United out of the play-offs now.

When Luton arrived at Victoria Park almost a fortnight ago, Pool - after losing back to back games - were in ninth spot on 57 points, three behind sixth-placed Bournemouth with an inferior goal difference.

Now, 12 points later, Pool have a five point gap ahead of nearest challengers Port Vale and a superior goal difference to the rest of the back. They are only three points off fourth spot.

All but clinching a place in the top six at struggling at Rushden on Saturday would be all the sweeter after losing the title at Nene Park last May.

The maximum return has been triggered by players coming into their best individual form.

On Saturday, Adam Boyd made it nine goals in seven games, Darrell Clarke stood out on the right, Tony Sweeney chased and harassed the all-but relegated Magpies and Ritchie Humphreys performed better than he has all season.

Since taking over the captaincy in Micky Barron's absence, last season's Player of the Year has revelled in the extra responsibility.

Saturday was a return to the free-flowing form which won him last year's award.

Long before his 42nd minute goal, Humpreys was a picture of confidence as he ran through and around the visitors at will.

The swagger had returned and his left foot was opening tins of beans.

There was even time for a smile at the Mill House Stand as he nutmegged and then raced around Ian Richardson - all that was missing was the cheeky wave which greeted his memorable megs against Bristol Rovers defender Mark Foran a couple of seasons ago.

His fourth goal of the season came as Pool turned up the heat. As the defence stood off on the corner of the penalty area, Humphreys curled a shot with the outside of his left boot around static keeper Stuart Garden and waist high into the net.

"That was the best Ritchie has played since I came to the club,'' said Cooper.

""It was the player I told he was last season.

"He has been up against a better class of player this season, so of course it was going to be more difficult.

"But this time he was getting behind them, running at players at will - the player we see every day in training.

"I'm delighted for him. He was our main man even before he scored the goal, a top performer for us.''

Humphreys' last goal was in the win at Port Vale on January - a vital result in the play-off picture.

He said: "The defenders stood off and the keeper probably hasn't seen the ball until it's too late because there were a lot of bodies in front.

"That was probably the only place I could go. I tried one last season, the keeper saved it and Tommy Widdrington came in to score.

"I've brought it back in from outside and it's worked this time. It was a good day for me, a lot of balls seemed to drop for me nicely and when it happens then you are on the front foot and racing forward.

"There's plenty of days when it doesn't go like that, when it does you have to take advantage.

"Notts County needed to win to give them a chance of staying up, but it took until the last 15 minutes of the half to really pen them in.

"It was a good job we scored before half-time, because that could have given them a little lift.''

Before Humphreys netted, Pool had never been in danger against the Division Three visitors.

Clarke played two lovely volleyed reverse passes to Darren Craddock as Pool cut open the visitors almost at will.

A minute before the opening goal, Boyd floated over a deep cross that Clarke took first time and steered against the far post.

Humphreys scored and then Eifion Williams shot from similar distance, this time Garden tipped it around the post.

And there was still time before the break for Clarke to see an effort hacked off the line.

Defender Tony Barras headed a long free-kick straight at Jim Provett, a rare chance created by the visitors.

And soon after Barras was back on the back foot. Thumping defeats at Victoria Park are nothing new to the defender - he started out at Pool in the late 80s and his last game for the club was a 6-0 reverse at home to Doncaster in September 1989, part of a team featuring such greats at Stephen Plaskett and Alan Lamb.

The Magpies were the lambs to the slaughter this time and two goals in a minute followed from Boyd.

A Neil Danns corner from the left saw Boyd shoot home at the second attempt after his first shot was blocked.

Then, from the edge of the area, he lifted a deft volley over the keeper from Mark Tinkler's pass and in off the post for his third double in four games.

Hugh Robertson's fourth goal for Pool was a surprise - it wasn't from a cracking strike!

Played through by Williams after a swift break away his crisp shot was palmed out by Garden and he showed a striker's touch to skirt around the keeper and tap into the net.

Result: Hartlepool 4 Notts County 0.

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