HAT-TRICK hero Darrell Clarke was last night trying to come to terms with his first triple haul.

Clarke netted three times in Pool's 7-1 win over Swansea and admitted: "I've got the match ball and it's signed by all the lads - I won't be letting that one go. I've played in a couple of fives before but never anything like this.

"It was unbelievable. It was a great game to play in and now it means we go to Exeter with everything to play for.

"I think after we lost to Macclesfield everyone thought we had blown our chances. We had to win our last five games to have a chance - we've won four of them so now we want to make it five.

"We are delighted with how things have gone and we will go to Exeter in a positive frame of mind and if we get three points then see where it leaves us.

"We've got to go there and win. Our away form has been good so we are all looking forward to it.

"I know it's a long way but I think we will take a good following - our supporters have been magnificent all season.

"I scored just before half-time and then we said in the dressing room that we needed another goal to kill them off. Eifion Williams got a quick goal and then the floodgates opened and it was all over.

"That will make our goal difference all the better and with Scunthorpe losing everything went for us.''

And since Clarke was moved into his preferred central midfield role in recent weeks he has impressed everyone. Pool boss Chris Turner has labelled him Tommy Miller Mark II and Saturday took his goal tally to seven.

"I've played a lot of games out wide and enjoyed it but I prefer the middle and I'm enjoying it.

"Even when we were bottom of the league I always felt we could make it because we have a good squad at the club.

"We had a bad start to the season and if we had been a bit more consistent then things might have been different. If we don't go up this season then we should be looking at next season.''

Micky Barron is unlikely to be fit for Saturday's trip to the south coast after having nine stitches in a leg wound.

Eifion Williams and Mark Robinson were also withdrawn.