MARK Tinkler's hat-trick earned Hartlepool United a 4-3 win over Wrexham at Victoria Park to extend Pool's lead at the top of the table to three points.

The midfielder netted three times to take his seasonal tally to 7 - and had another disallowed - in a game Pool should have had won long before the nail-biting end.

Marcus Richardson netted on his first start to make it 2-0 and with Pool 4-1 to the good it should have been all over.

But Wrexham reduced the deficit with a Lee Trundle effort and Hector Sam's 86th minute penalty, after Anthony Williams brought down Lee Jones and was yellow carded, ensured a tense finale.

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