FOR Hartlepool the play-offs might not be out of the question as they answered the doubters in the best possible manner.

Pool had been written off in some quarters after Saturday's draw at Rochdale, but last night's win at Carlisle was just what Chris Turner needed, and if Pool can get three points at home to Macclesfield on Friday night, then they are right back in the thick of it.

With six games to go - three at home, three away - Pool are in tenth spot on 56 points, level on points with Kidderminster, and five points behind seventh-placed Shrewsbury, who sit in the final play-off spot.

Thanks to a steely rearguard display, Pool were always on top last night. They bossed the majority of the game and for once, they got the result their performance deserved away from Victoria Park.

For the third time in a row Pool kept a clean sheet while playing three at the back - they also mamaged it at Bristol Rovers last month and at Rochdale on Saturday. A few more in the run-in and who knows where it will end; maybe even Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Chris Turner had warned of the danger of Carlisle's bobbly Brunton Park pitch. It was more like a mudbath when Darlington won in Cumbria last month, but last night it was as rutted as a farm track.

The Pool defence found that out as they hacked at a few early clearances after the ball took the unkindest of bounces.

Paul Stephenson sent in a low shot that sailed past the post, but for the first 20 minutes that was the only action.

Minutes later, however, it was a different story. Darrell Clarke sent in a cross from the left, Mark Tinkler headed on and when Ritchie Humphreys chested the ball towards goal from six yards it looked a certain goal.

But former Newcastle keeper Peter Keen wasn't having any of it and pushed the ball wide for a corner.

Paul Smith - who else? - sent in the set-piece and Graeme Lee towered above everyone in the penalty area to plant a header home.

Carlisle then came back with intent. Full-back Mark Birch raced forward 50 yards with the ball and lashed a shot that Antony Williams collected.

And the Pool keeper had to be at his best to keep out Ritchie Foran when the front man pulled the ball back from the goalline on the volley and Dave Rodgers fired in a low shot that fizzed past the post.

Bypassing the playing surface Carlisle were banging the ball forward at every opportunity, but with Pool again fielding a three-man defence it was playing straight into the hands of Micky Barron, Lee and Chris Westwood.

Amid incessant rain, Pool tried to take the game to the hosts and look for the killer second goal that has proved so elusive away from home this season. Little was arriving in terms of chances and neither keeper was being tested.

That was until 68 minutes. Humphreys ran across the Carlisle defence on the edge of the box, trying desperately to tee the ball up onto his left boot. When he managed it, he was crowded out, the shot was blocked and when it landed for Mark Tinkler, he laid off the simplest of chances for Gordon Watson.

He might have missed from similar range on Saturday, but he certainly wasn't going to pass up this chance for his 15th goal of the season.

That was Watson's last action, replaced soon after by Eifion Williams in the forward line. Tinkler shot over the bar and then a header flashed wide from the midfielder, but new striker Williams was lively when he came on and linked up well with fellow substitute Kevin Henderson.

* John Hardiker stunned First Division leaders Manchester City with a dramatic late double to give relegated Stockport a famous 2-1 victory last night.

The midfielder brought County level in the 86th minute then grabbed the winner in stoppage time against ten-man City who had led through Jon Macken's early strike.

It was only Stockport's fourth victory in the league this season after their relegation to the Second Division was confirmed at the weekend with defeat at Wimbledon.

But they battled and scrapped after City had had Shaun Goater sent off in the opening half.He was dismissed by referee Clive Wilkes after he tipped a goalbound header wide.

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