IMPRESSIVE Darrell Clarke capped a superb performance by grabbing Hartlepool United's winning goal against Third Division leaders Plymouth Argyle yesterday.

The 24-year-old popped up at the back post with four minutes remaining to keep Pool's slim play-off hopes alive.

Seventh-placed Scunthorpe's draw at Leyton Orient means Chris Turner's men lie five points adrift of the promotion hopefuls.

But after inflicting Plymouth's first defeat in 12 games at Victoria Park, Pool will go into their final three matches against Halifax, Swansea and Exeter feeling buoyant.

Clarke's effort came at a time when Turner's men looked as if they were going to be unable to turn their second half possession into a goal.

The Pool boss brought on strikers Adam Boyd and Kevin Henderson for the final 11 minutes and the latter played his part in Clarke's effort.

Mark Robinson's cross was flicked on by Henderson and Clarke sneaked in around the back to head past Plymouth's goalkeeper Romain Larrieu, who has kept 23 clean sheets, for his fifth of the campaign.

Clarke admitted he was delighted to see the ball end up in the net, saying: "It is a relief because it has given us three points and it has made our last three games interesting.

"Halifax may be relegated now but they have got no pressure and there are no easy games in this division.

"We have beaten some good teams and lost to the lower teams so we know we cannot be complacent.

"We have just got to keep going and who knows? Even if we don't get in there we have got a great squad here now and it looks good for next season.

"If it is to be next year we should not even be looking at a play-off place - we should be looking at where Plymouth are in the top three."

He added: "Personally it was nice for me to find the net because I've hit the woodwork loads of times and it hasn't really gone for me."

Turner, who started with a 4-4-2 formation, made two changes from the side which won 2-1 at Oxford.

Robinson and James Coppinger were drafted in at the expense of Paul Arnison, impressive at the Kassam Stadium, and flu victim Paul Stephenson.

Turner's opposite number, Paul Sturrock, also made changes, despite claiming a narrow 1-0 sucess over Bristol Rovers. Goalscorer Marino Keith dropped to the bench along with highly-rated Ian Stonebridge.

For the first 20 minutes both sides found gaps in the defences.

First Plymouth's Steve Adams played in Kevin Wills, who should have done better when he pulled his shot wide.

Pool reacted by bursting up field and Coppinger, on loan from Newcastle until the end of the season, capitalised on a stray Adams pass to shoot. But keeper Romain Larrieu saved easily.

Home 'keeper Anthony Williams should have been picking the ball out of the net after 16 minutes.

Wotton's exquisite chip from 30 yards found striker Michael Evans unmarked 12 yards out. But with the goal gaping he headed a foot wide.

This seemed to spur Pool into action and they had three great chances to find the opener.

Eifion Williams, scorer of both the goals at Oxford, was at fault for a couple when he headed over a Paul Smith cross then fired wide after being put through by the lively Gordon Watson.

In between those, top-scorer Watson created space for himself in the Plymouth box but Larrieu got his boot to the forward's shot.

Two minutes before half-fime Pool were handed a glorious opportunity when referee Mark Jones judged David Worrell to have back passed to Larrieu, when the ball appeared to just rebound of the defender's feet.

But Watson's free-kick from six-yards was blocked by a wall of Plymouth players.

It was Williams' day in front of goal two days earlier, but this time he was finding that his luck was out against the Pilgrims. The 26-year-old was unable to trouble Larrieu when he again went clean through following the adventurous Smith's good ball.

Seconds later Pool defender Chris Westwood's header was cleared off the line by midfielder David Friio as the hosts looked like taking the lead.

Turner had obviously urged his team to attack at will and time after time Pool played some good football in the opposition's third of the field.

However, Larrieu was not being forced to work hard enough during a highly-charged second-half.

The heat rose further when Friio and Michael Barron tussled on the right flank as time began to run out on Pool's play-off hopes.

But with three minutes remaining Clarke sneaked in to head home Pool's deserved winner, as the Victoria Park faithful start to consider a possible top seven finish all over again.

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