HARTLEPOOL United's flying squad are impressing Chris Turner more and more by the week - and setting themselves new standards along the way.

Saturday's win at Barnet made it eight wins from ten League and Cup outings - a run of results that has included two comprehensive wins over Tony Cottee's side, and a spell that has seen not only the play-offs, but automatic promotion come within realistic sight.

"That performance was probably the best away from home since I came here,'' beamed Turner.

And that is no mean accolade for his charges, given it comes ten days after Turner hailed the goalless draw at runaway leaders Chesterfield up there with the best.

A tally of 11 points this month must surely bring Turner his first managerial accolade with the Division Three manager of the month award.

This might have been billed as a revenge mission for Cottee and Barnet, a manager and team seemingly desperate to forget the 6-1 drubbing at Victoria Park last month.

But after a couple of minutes it was obvious it was never going to happen - Pool are simply a better and stronger side than Barnet.

You have to turn the clock back ten years for the last time Pool went away from home with such determination, belief and confidence, when Pool under Cyril Knowles turned in some stunning away performances. Pool under Chris Turner are now doing the same.

Cottee is no mean football judge, it's not that long ago since he was netting in the Premiership, and he declared Pool second only to Brighton in the Division Three pecking order. Turner probably wouldn't disagree as Brighton are the only side to teach Pool a real lesson this season.

Kevin Henderson made it 13 strikes for the season and Sam Shilton put Cottee to the sword after the player-manager had given Barnet hope.

But while Henderson might take the plaudits after finally managing to score more than once in a game for the first time this season, it was in no small thanks to Craig Midgley.

The front man is in the form of his life. He netted a hat-trick in the 6-1 Christmas win, and ran himself into the ground and the Barnet defence absolutely ragged on Saturday in a display arguable better than his triple salvo last month.

Midgley has a liking for Barnet - he scored his first Pool goal at Underhill in March 1998 and his first blue and white hat-trick arrived last month. He did have chances to add to his six-goal Barnet tally, but was denied by keeper Lee Harrison on numerous occasions.

"That was a great result and we were delighted with the way we played,'' admitted Midgley. "Now we are in the top seven, we have to stay there and look for promotion as well. I'm enjoying playing with Kevin Henderson at the minute. He wins a lot in the air and I'm picking things up on the ground and it's working well.

"We are flying and we just have to keep this run going. We are in the play-off places, but we have to stay in there and then push for the top three. We've showed against Barnet what we can do and teams will take notice of us now.

"It was important to go to Barnet and get something and everything is going right. I think we expected them to go for us at the start and we battled very hard to keep them out, and then got on top.''

Midgley's perseverance paid off as Pool struck the vital third goal minutes after Cottee reduced to deficit to 2-1. Given Pool's habit for throwing away leads the sloppy goal conceded might have caused one or two worries among the healthy travelling support.

But Midgley harassed Greg Heald into making a mistake in the far corner and after a one-two with Shilton, rifled a 25-yard drive that was destined for the top corner before Harrison intervened.

"Sam did well and when I hit it the ball was going in, but it was swerving all over the place - I couldn't believe he saved it,'' bemoaned Midgley.

From Stephenson's corner, Shilton was poised on the edge of the box when the ball was headed out and he rifled it back through the penalty area into the net.

All-action workhorse Midgley had also teed up Henderson for Pool's second. Stephenson picked up a loose midfield ball and sent Midgley away down the left channel. After racing into the area, he unselfishly laid it off for his partner in crime who slotted home.

Henderson gave Pool the lead when Tommy Miller played him in behind the back line and he lashed the ball under the advancing Harrison. One-nil down and there might have been a few worried "here we go again" thoughts in the Barnet side.

By the final whistle, perhaps a 6-1 scoreline wasn't as far away from the realms of possibility than they would have liked. Cottee should be thankful for Harrison's efforts in keeping the score semi-respectable.

"I thought we controlled the game - we knew it would be a footballing game and it was,'' said Turner. "They created plenty of chances when we beat them 6-1 and now we can compete against teams away from home as well.

"The front two worked their socks off - Midge is doing very well, but so is everyone. Kevin Henderson finished his chances off well and worked hard, he came on a free transfer and now has 13 goals this season.

"In midfield, Mark Tinkler has brought us some strength and Paul Stephenson is playing well.