JAMES Sharp has set his Hartlepool United teammates a four-game winning target as the Division Three promotion race hots up.

Pool enter the final stages of the season in fourth spot, one place and four points behind Brighton and Cardiff, and with seven games to go entertain struggling Halifax this afternoon.

With the promotion hopes of table-topping Chesterfield in the balance as the FA investigates financial irregularities at Saltergate, Pool are well aware that finishing fourth could be enough for promotion.

"We are only four points behind but Brighton and Cardiff have games in hand,'' said Sharp.

"You never know what could happen, but there could be a big game on the last day of the season when we play Cardiff.

"We have seven games left and we needed the last two wins because we had drawn a few too many. We could have lost two games and won two games and been better off points-wise, but the confidence the unbeaten run has brought is phenomenal.

"We know Halifax will be fighting for their lives. We have four very hard games coming up after Halifax - Southend, Hull, Orient and Scunthorpe.

"I think if we can win, say, three of those four and then go to Kidderminster and win, then we should be there in fourth place.

"Then it is up to what happens with Chesterfield whether we are in the play-offs or promoted.''

Signed on the eve of the season from Andover Town, former Reading trainee Sharp has been a mainstay in Chris Turner's side, playing in 19 of the 20 unbeaten games that have propelled Pool into the top four.

Gary Strodder started the run off in defence against Southend on December 2, but when he was suspended at Halifax the following week, Sharp stood in and has never looked back.

While scouts from higher divisions keep tabs on the likes of Tommy Miller and Chris Westwood, Turner is well aware that Sharp's cultured left foot and long throw have also caught the eye.

But despite his impressive form and his first League goal in January's win at Cheltenham, Sharp is not one to get carried away.

"Gary Strodder came on against Lincoln during the week and I moved further over to the left. If I was part of the furniture here I wouldn't have been moved.

"We are all in this together and the aim is to get some success. It's ironic we beat Lincoln because I made my debut against them. I got through that game on adrenaline.

"If there's been a low point for us it was Mansfield away, but we have all come a long way from then.

"We've kept two clean sheets in a row this week and if we can win three or four and not lose the other games then we will be OK.''

Tuesday's win over Lincoln wasn't a pretty affair but it made it 44 points from a possible 60 and Sharp added: "We went out for the warm-up and the wind was right up, but we said we would play with it - we always like to kick to the Town End in the second-half.

"We did very well on Saturday at Plymouth and found it hard on Tuesday, but we got another win and that is all that matters.

"Tommy got another great goal and it's good to have Paul Stephenson back as well. Mark Tinkler is back now as well and his passing is second to none.''

Skipper Micky Barron makes his 150th League appearance this afternoon with Sharp alongside in the centre of defence, but Turner is likely to move Chris Westwood back into the middle after an outing on the right-side in midweek.

Turner revealed that Tinkler would be back in the starting line-up.

"He's a major influence and he will return,'' he said. "The only decision is who to leave out.

"But it's a nice choice to have to make after two wins. We have done very well without him, but I think we miss his heading ability and tackling.

He helps make Tommy Miller and Paul Stephenson tick.''

l Pool's youth team went down 3-2 against Rochdale in a top-of-the-table Northern Section Merit Division Two clash yesterday at Peterlee.

Martin Scott's side were 3-0 down before pulling two back through David Piggott and Brian Cole.

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