IN just 47 minutes of football, Ritchie Humphreys exorcised the demons which have been shadowing him since April 31.

Save for the frame of the Cheltenham goal on that fateful play-off night, Hartlepool United could have been kicking-off the new season in Division Two.

Instead, Humphreys' penalty struck the woodwork twice and refused to go in, consigning Pool to another assault on Division Three. But if anyone thought it was going to affect him, they were proved oh so wrong on Saturday. By the time Humphreys scored his first goal for Pool last season, Father Christmas was priming himself for a night of hard graft.

Not for the want of trying, the former Premiership protg took until December 8 to register on the scoring charts.

On Saturday - and not while playing up front like last season, but on the wing - two minutes after the break and the sort of chance which 12 months ago might have hit the post, been pushed out by the keeper, or been hacked off the line by a lucky defender, was gobbled up with delight.

And with it came a show of unbridled relief from Humphreys as he celebrated in style in front of the travelling fans, who cried the same tears of pain last season as the 24-year-old.

A player of Humphreys' class was never going to be held back by thinking what might have been and as Pool coasted to the easiest of opening day victories at Carlisle, he was dominant. "It was a great start for us,'' he said.

"We went in at half-time really pleased with going one-up and then it was two. I'm delighted to get off the mark, it took me so long last season.

"We all know the consequences of what happened last season, that's gone now, we've won the first game and that's all that matters. I can't remember how many games it took me to score last season - you'll have to look that one up for me!''

And he was quick to say a big thank-you to the supporters for their support after the play-off drama.

"The fans have been magnificent and they were again on Saturday,'' he admitted. "I can't thank them all enough for what they have done for me. I received a lot of letters of support over the summer, which was excellent, and they helped me. Now we want to repay their support.

"The top three is our aim. We want to push for that top three spot; that's what everything is geared towards, but there's a hell of a long way to go yet! We've got two home games to come now and we need to make the most of it.

"If you are a forward player and haven't got off the mark yet, it can get you down a bit. To put us two-up gave us a bit of a cushion. I've been playing out wide, but even in the middle, you see a lot more of the ball and I've been getting onto things more, coming onto it, which suits me and it's worked out well.''

Turner said: "It just shows how strange the game can be. We played him up front last season and it took him all those games to score. Now we play him deeper and he scores in the first game of the season. He's had more chances playing out wide.''

Carlisle played like a bunch of strangers - no surprise given five players were signed on Friday and boss Roddy Collins had only been given ten days to prepare for Pool's visit.

But backed by around 9,000 fans in a crowd of over 10,500, more was expected from the home side. Instead there was no early passion-filled spurt to mark the club's new era and Pool always looked in command without ever being exerted.

And with the crowd silenced by their team's lack of ability and understanding, Pool eased their way home. Micky Barron and Graeme Lee were called upon to make a couple of defensive clearances early on, but with Gordon Watson always making inroads on the home defence and finding his teammates with regular ease, it looked a matter of time before the goals came.

Two minutes before the break, Humphreys won the ball back on the edge of the area as Pool kept the pressure on and when Eifion Williams' shot was stopped by Peter Keen, it fell for Mark Tinkler.

With the home defence going walkabout all he had to do was tap in. Number two came two minutes after the break. Paul Arnison's low cross was dummied by Humphreys, but instead of teeing up Watson, the awful Michael Jack got all confused and cannoned the ball back into Humphreys' path for the chance he craved for.

Two goals up and Pool stopped playing. If they had carried on then they could have scored more than Tinkler's 12-yard finish, thanks to another Arnison assist, on 71 minutes.

Tinkler could even have been celebrating a hat-trick. Arnison came on at the break for Anthony Sweeney, who can be pleased with his first start in league football.

The teenager wasn't afraid to get forward, showed some good touches, and as Pool dominated in midfield, he more than played his part. Former Tow Law striker Brian Wake got away from the Pool defence to confidently finish past Anthony Williams, but Pool were never going to give this away.

One down, 45 to go, but there will be bigger hurdles than this along the road.

Read more about Hartlepool here.