HARTLEPOOL United might have found a simple strategy to winning games this season play against nine men every week!

Saturday's 3-1 win over Carlisle mirrors their only other triumph this season: an identical result at Shrewsbury in which on both occasions they have faced opposition shorn of two players.

Pool were also handicapped on Saturday when Kevin Henderson was shown the red card alongside Carlisle's Lee Andrews after the pair clashed in the Victoria Park penalty area, but when the visitors' Tony Hopper followed suit, there was only one winner.

Then again, Pool had more than enough about them to beat a fully numbered Carlisle side, because this performance was getting back to the Pool of last season: the one that rarely lost games; the one that reached the play-offs two seasons running.

No coincidence that the improved display came with the return of the 3-5-2 line-up that has served Pool so well in recent seasons.

Micky Barron returned from injury and slotted back into the defence with the ease people have come to expect from the skipper. Gordon Watson again showed his class up front with a neat finish and a display that declared he'll score a lot more goals this season and as Pool won the midfield battle, on came Adam Boyd for a great cameo display.

Home-grown Boyd set up Watson for Pool's second goal and netted the third with a confident finish as time ran out.

Tommy Widdrington was alongside Boyd as the former Port Vale skipper was called back into action and he admitted: "Adam's one of the most talented players at the club. He wants to play on this stage and I'm so pleased for him to score.''

Widdrington has sat out the last two games as Pool tried to find a winning formula, but the midfielder came back in to give probably his best display in a Pool shirt.

"I've said that there is a very, very fine line between winning the majority of our games this season,'' he added. "Obviously the fans are a little frustrated because expectations are high here.

"I don't want to talk about turning the corner but we have got a good win under our belts and hopefully it is a booster for us.

"Obviously I was disappointed not to be involved against Kidderminster. The manager wanted a shake-up but it didn't quite work out that way and we didn't win the two games I missed.

"We have always been talking about someone getting a beating, but we were never going to go gung-ho at anyone. We went behind after three minutes and coming back showed the character in the side.

"Some people might say we have only beat nine men, but we'll take that as a good performance.''

After the traumas of this season, going one-down early on was the last thing Turner wanted. Against a limited team in Carlisle, it could have been the signal for Pool to hide in their shells.

Instead they took hold of the game. Ritchie Foran raced away after James Sharp's throw-in was directed to David Morley.

The striker fired across goal, Anthony Williams parried and Chay Hews ran in unchecked to net.

Mark Robinson's sweetly-struck free-kick beat Carlisle keeper Peter Keen, but as is the luck dogging Pool this season, it cannoned off the post and out.

But for once, the ball fell to a Pool player in the penalty area instead of landing for a defender and Mark Tinkler gratefully lashed home.

Henderson and Andrews were red-carded after the referee's assistant spotted the pair meeting up in the penalty area. Andrews can have no complaints after lashing out, but Henderson protested his innocence.

Graeme Lee was thrown up front to keep Watson company and Pool were soon rewarded.

Tinkler hobbled off to be replaced by Boyd and it was his searching ball that Lee flicked on for Gordon Watson to steer past Keen. Watson is playing football with a smile on his face and it's plain to see he is making the most of this chance.

A late and reckless lunge on James Sharp after referee Phil Joslin had already stopped play saw Tony Hopper join Andrews in the dressing room, but even though they were down to nine, Carlisle still pushed three up-front.

Boyd danced his way into space and unleashed a low drive into the far corner to secure his second League goal, some 31 months after his only other effort.

Five minutes of injury time and Pool had more than enough chances to beat rag tag and bobtail Carlisle. Widdrington had the best opening, clean through with only Keen to beat but he fluffed his chance.

"It was nose bleed time for me,'' joked Widdrington. "I didn't know if I was offside or not, but maybe that's what I play a bit deeper.''

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