THEY came, they saw, they were conquered. But as the 9,200 Hartlepool United fans snaked their way back down the A19 on Saturday evening, jamming every exit out of Sunderland in the process, they headed home with heads held high.

Sunderland and the Stadium of Light had never seen anything like it.

Just a fortnight previous, less than 50 Wimbledon fans had rattled around the South Stand's away enclosure.

This time almost 10,000 were in the same stand - and more scattered in pockets around the ground. More, in fact, as one wag pointed out, than Newcastle have ever took to the grand theatre!

"All we want to do it do ourselves justice,'' said one fan, pre-match pie and pint in hand stood in the concourse.

The only injustice for the visiting contingent to mull over was that there is no replay, no game at Victoria Park a week on Tuesday to think about.

The difference between the sides - who, remember were at opposite ends of the football spectrum last season, Pool in the bottom division, the Black Cats in the Premiership - was the class of Julio Arca and Mart Poom.

Arca caused problems from the off; Poom saved the Cats' bacon on more than one occasion.

Ironic that Poom, who last week admitted all he knew about Pool was that they were a long-ball, physical outfit should create the game's only goal with . . . a long ball.

Backed by such a huge following, the sheer sight of the fans took the visiting players' breath away.

Jim Provett and Ritchie Humphreys needed more than one glance and glare at the blue and white hordes before the game to appreciate the number.

As Sunderland started the brighter, the Pool faithful were a little subdued; nerves on the big stage perhaps.

But as the players came more into it, so did the fans.

Poom somehow saved from Williams, the liveliest striker on the pitch, Provett did likewise from Stewart.

Even after Arca's tidy finish, Pool didn't sit back, they stepped up a notch.

"Away Pools" shouted Stuart Drummond, the Mayor of Hartlepool from his seat in row 30 behind Mart Poom's goal and not pronouncing his H's like everyone else in Artlepool.

"Come on Skippy" screamed a young voice, urging on Pool's Aussie striker Porter who replaced Robinson with a spring in his step.

Robson's free-kick landed between Clarke, Williams and Porter when it needed a backside or a shin to divert past the impeccible Poom.

When they did get past Poom, Babb, gloves and all, kicked off the line.

"That's it" declared The Mayor, who has only missed one game all season - an LVD Vans Trophy game at Oldham. "But we'll be back here one day."

The Sunderland faithful, who had saw their side given a harder time than most First Division outfits have done this season, stayed to applaud Pool off the pitch.

It wasn't out of pity, more out of respect.

But just like big games and big cup days out over the years at White Hart Lane, Highbury, Bramall Lane and Hillsborough, Pool couldn't score.

It wasn't to be and the odd tear was shed as those youngsters clad in blue and white from head to toe ventured home.

Pool are next at home on Saturday, let's see how many of the thousands who went to Wearside are at Victoria Park when Peterborough visit.

Read more about Hartlepool here.