NEALE Cooper cast an eye across the Victoria Park pitch, admiring the skill on show and weighing up the junior talent on view.

He particularly liked the look of the lively little lad who netted the winner.

But despite his favouritism for giving the youngsters a chance, surely the kids from St Cuthbert's and Jesmond Road Schools playing out the final of the Railtrack Cup are a few years away from a Hartlepool United call-up just yet!

Saturday's matchwinner Jack Wilkinson wouldn't have looked out of place in the schools' game which took place while Cooper gave his assessment on the win over Rushden which lifted his team into sixth spot.

The 18-year-old was handed his first start and gave the experienced defenders of Rushden a hard time.

After having a goal chalked off for offside and twice going close he even had the temerity to score the winner in front of the Town End.

While his goal secured Pool's first Saturday home victory of the season and the Sunday headlines to boot, the rest of Cooper's Creche weren't far behind him in the impression stakes.

In goal, there was Jim Provett (20), left-back Matty Robson (18), central defence Darren Craddock (18), striker Wilkinson (18) and, for the closing stages, Anthony Sweeney (20), who all played their part.

Don't forget David Foley, at 16 the youngest player to turn out for Pool after an appearance earlier this season, John Brackstone, the 18-year-old who netted a free-kick the previous week, and nippy 17-year-old winger Steven Istead.

In the past Pool managers have been forced to play such a young team because there was nothing else available. John MacPhail bemoaned the fact during his spell in charge - "The team bus is more like a school outing, full of kids eating crisps," he said.

Now, amid the most sustained period of success in their history, Cooper is able to do it out of choice and, unlike in the past, none of them look out of place.

Cooper remembers being given his chance at Aberdeen at the ripe old age of 16 and how it excited him to play on the big stage at a young age.

The bloke in charge of that team has stuck with the policy throughout his managerial career. If it's good enough for Sir Alex Ferguson, it's good enough for Neale Cooper.

"Jack gives us something different, something we haven't got with his movement,'' said Cooper. "Eifion Williams looked happy playing with him because they both work so hard

"He never looked fazed during the game and his movement was a different class. It was an instinctive finish and for a young lad he works really hard.

"Jack will only go from strength to strength and it is the same with Darren Craddock, who looked so comfortable on the ball.

"People were saying I took a wee chance with the young boys, but that's the way I've been since I came here - if they are good enough they will play.

"They play with no fear at all. I've said you have to have the mental toughness to play in front of crowds and these boys have it.

"You could see that Jack enjoys it, having a stage to perform on.

"He's a quiet boy off the pitch, a quiet lad who just works so hard on his game. He loves playing football.

"I don't think he models himself on anyone - he's a bit different to other youngsters I've seen.''

Cooper added: "Young Matty knows he had to do better than he had been, he started off the season in the team and doing well. But he got a chance and he made some good runs.

"He hasn't been training with the first-team, only on Thursday and Friday when we realised Bracca wouldn't play.

"I had a word with him, because I know it would be hard to come back into the first-team after training with the kids but it didn't affect him.''

Craddock impressed in the middle alongside Micky Nelson and the last debut from a teenage central defender as assured and composed as Craddock's was Graeme Lee's at Bury in 1996.

Lee soon became a mainstay in the side, Craddock could likewise.

Yet his start came at a suprising cost. Micky Barron, skipper and an integral part of the team since the time of Lee's first game, stayed on the bench throughout.

Chris Westwood, the best central defender in Division Three last season and whose partnership with Micky Nelson has been the rock on which Pool's success has been built, was shunted to right-back.

It was all change in midfield - a diamond formation with Mark Tinkler on the right and Darrell Clarke furthest forward.

Another game, another formation for Tinkerman Cooper.

Nigel Clough was looking on from the director's box ahead of the FA Cup tie with his Burton Albion.

Yet that game doesn't happen until December 6 - Pool's will doubtless have another completely different set up and personnel by then.

Rushden were, of course, the last team to win a league game at Victoria Park. That was 26 games back and Pool were desperate to put one over Rushden after last season's title slip-up.

When referee Chris Foy awarded a penalty on 40 minutes, it was a player not around last season who took charge.

Tinkler's shot found the hand of John Dempster and, in the absence of Marco Gabbiadini and Paul Robinson, no-one was going to stop Strachan.

An equaliser could have came soon after when Robson and Craddock left the ball for each other and Rodney Jack nipped in.

As he closed in on goal, Provett stayed on his line and Jack cracked a shot across the keeper and onto the bar.

It did arrive when Jack lifted a header beyond Provett.

Soon after it was advantage Pool when Paul Hall was sent-off by petty referee Chris Foy.

Six yellows and a red card were flashed by the official whose game was based on the idea that every foul is a booking.

It's hard to recall any of the bookings really worthy of a card; the celebratory cards, however, will be on their way to Wilkinson.

Westwood's wayward shot struck Clarke and it fell for Wilkinson.

A quick turn and volley and Pool were up to sixth - McDonald's Happy Meals all around!

Result: Hartlepool United 2 Rushden and Diamonds 1.

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