MIKE Newell suffered agony on his return to Victoria Park after the most enthralling of games last night.

The former Hartlepool United boss could only look on as his current side, Luton Town, went down to a 4-3 defeat.

Adam Boyd's last minute penalty secured a dramatic win for Pool over their play-off rivals in a game that never stopped entertaining from the first minute to the last.

Newell never lost a League game at Victoria Park while Pool manager, an FA Cup reverse to Southend was his only blemish. His last game in charge at Pool's home was a 3-0 win for his then-title-chasing side over Shrewsbury.

Last night's defeat was celebrated in similar fashion by the home fans; Newell may feel a little different. And it means you have to look way back to 2001 for the last time Pool suffered three successive league defeats.

The heart-stopping win puts Pool back in the play-off frame, they are seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bournemouth who visit Victoria Park on Saturday.

Pool had a penalty shout knocked back after a minute.

Soon after they were one down. Jim Provett tipped over a Chris Coyne effort and from the corner Steven Howard rose highest at the far post to nod across goal and into the net.

It was his fifth goal in six games against his former club. He also scored twice as Luton beat Pool at Kenilworth Road earlier this season.

The goal must have meant a lot to Newell and how he showed it by gleefully clapping his hands in the dug out - quite an animation from the often-static figure.

But the hands were back in his suit pockets when Pool levelled on 14 minutes. Hugh Robertson floated over a right-wing corner and Tony Sweeney stooped low to head home his first goal in senior football. Seconds later a tasty Humphreys cross was deflected wide of goal and out of reach of Adam Boyd.

Pool had their trademark zest and spark back last night. It's been missing for a few games now, but Boyd was causing trouble with his touch and movement and Sweeney was regularly charging forward from midfield.

Boyd should have given Pool the lead on 25 minutes.

A move from left to right saw Darren Craddock gallop forward and send a low cross into the box. Boyd took a touch but blazed over the bar from eight yards out.

The teenage full back then confidently struck a first-time shot just over the bar from 25 yards.

But Pool were soon trailing from a shot of similar distance. Enoch Showumni sent a cross over from the right, Craddock headed away and Michael Leary curled a low effort into the corner of the net.

They could easily have been 3-1 down as half-time approached.

Chris Westwood misjudged a long ball, which bounced over his head and into the path of the on-rushing Ahmet Brkovic. He raced into the penalty area and, with only Provett to beat, thumped his volley against the bar.

Boyd's hard work was rewarded with an equaliser seven minutes into the second period. After a spell of pressure, Humphreys tricked his way to the byline, crossed into the area and Boyd steered a header high into the net.

Robertson can crack a ball. If the net hadn't caught last night's 55th minute thumper it would have found its way into the new supermarket car park behind the Town End.

Tinkler laid the ball out of the penalty area, Strachan left it for Robertson and the Scot lived up to his 'Hot-shot Hamish' nickname, by blasting the hardest shot you will see all season beyond keeper Morten Hyldgaard.

The lead didn't last long. Nemesis Howard headed against the bar and Brkovic headed the rebound over the line.

Strachan and Robertson stood over a free-kick in a prime position on the edge of the area, but the former could only find the crowd behind the goal with his effort.

Howard took a long ball down on his chest, turned and fired a low shot wide of Provett's post.

Boyd's penalty came after substitute Eifion Williams was felled in the area and, after two missed penalties in a row, the Hartlepool-born striker was a picture of calmness as he slotted it home.

Deep in injury time, there was a double scare for Pool. Showumni had a header ruled out for offside and Provett made an outstanding save to deny Coyne.

* Joe Royle's Ipswich Town are reeling from a double injury blow that could affect their push for promotion.

Key midfielders Jim Magilton and Ian Westlake are doubtful for Saturday's trip to Rotherham with hamstring and knee and calf injuries respectively