ON the coldest night in years, Hartlepool United produced a performance and enjoyed a result to warm the hearts.

Pool put an amazing five goals past play-off rivals Port Vale as they bounced back from Saturday's reverse in grand style.

With the nation covered in snow, Neale Cooper's side were in a winter wonderland of their own.

Last time out at Vale Park, Pool were thumped 6-0 in 1994. This time it was the visitors going goal crazy.

Since losing at QPR on December 13, Pool have won two and drawn one on their travels as their travel sickness is put to bed.

Who knows how long it would take the 95 travelling fans to get back to the North-East. As they left Vale Park they probably didn't care.

Only 90 seconds had elapsed before Pool were under threat - and fortunate to escape.

Ritchie Humphreys was robbed by Michael Cummins and Mark Tinkler deflected the cross for a corner. Steve Brooker thumped a header from the resulting corner against the woodwork.

Five minutes in and top scorer Steve McPhee raced away past Chris Westwood to shoot low across Jim Provett's far post.

Undeterred by the early pressure Pool took the lead with a goal expertly created by Sam Collins. The home defender, without a moment of hesitation, passed the ball to Chris Shuker and he rolled the ball low under keeper Jon Brain.

It was just the start the pocket of freezing visiting fans needed to cheer them up.

They soon felt the chill, however. Despite being one-up after five minutes it was all square a couple of minutes later when Steve Brooker raced forward and lifted the ball over Provett into the net.

The home side played with three strikers and for all their speed and danger up front, it was a different tale at the other end. The home defenders were alien to the red shirted attackers and looked uneasy every time Pool attacked.

And the home defenders were down in numbers on 22 minutes when Brooker's nightmare was cut short with a red card.

Paul Robinson robbed the lumbering defender and raced towards goal. Collins had three tugs at the recalled striker before he managed to haul him down on the egde of the area.

Referee Scott Mathieson couldn't do anything but dismiss the home captain.

Robinson had started the game with a spring in his step and it was his persistence which forced skipper Collins into his indiscretion.

Eifion Williams almost put Pool back in front when he met Ritchie Humphreys' cross at the near post but he was just beaten to the ball.

From the corner, creator Humphreys turned scorer. Gavin Strachan's set piece found it's way to the midfielder on the edge of the penalty area and his low drive flew past Brain into the net.

Pool were only able to hang onto their early lead for minutes. This time they needed Provett to keep the advantage intact - getting down low to stop McPhee's shot.

The dismissal and following reshuffle affected Vale badly and Pool's tidy passing game put them in command.

There was little snowfall at Vale Park, the odd first-half flurry was all that arrived, and certainly nothing like the white-out in the North-East. It looked as if that was all that could stop Pool.

The visitors were in front against ten men and looking good for away win number five.

Robinson had his first start since Boxing Day and he made the most of his chance as he was back to his livewire best.

He was replaced by Joel Porter on 69 minutes and seconds later Micky Nelson towered above the home defenders to plant a firm header into the net to send the away fans delerious.

Soon it was four - again from a Strachan left-wing corner - this time Williams confidently firing in a left-foot volley at the far post.

That was the cue for the snow to fall heavier than it had all night and the Vale fans headed for home in their droves.

It became difficult to see the far side of the pitch, but Pool weren't compaining as it became five.

Humphreys crossed and substitute Darrell Clarke slid in - without the aid of a sledge on the snow bound pitch - to connect.

From a right wing free-kick, Cummins headed past Provett to reduce the gap.

* Boss Neale Cooper is cool on talk of a move for Darlington striker Barry Conlon, saying: "It's a name that has been mentioned and he is a player that I am well aware of but there's nothing happening and there's nothing to say on it."