SKIPPER Paul Stephenson enjoys coming up against his old teammate Ashley Bayes - because it normally means a goal, writes NICK LOUGHLIN.

Stephenson, at Brentford alongside Bayes, scored against him at the start of last season against Leyton Orient. And he did it again on Saturday as he fired Pool to a 2-1 win.

Midfield partner Tommy Miller opened the scoring, with Stephenson's 25-yard rocket clinching the points as Pool made it six games unbeaten at Victoria Park.

And Stephenson, the former Newcastle winger, who doubled his tally for the season in the process, admitted: "We were messing about in the tunnel before the game and I said to Ashley that I would get one - sometimes you get a little thing like that and it happens.

"I got the ball out of my feet and knew which side of the goal the keeper would be on so I went for the far side. Three or four minutes before I hit one better but it was deflected wide. I've waited long enoug to get a goal from open play.

"Tommy was on target as well and we both chipped in last season - Tommy especially and I got six. I want to get six or seven again. It would be nice to get double figures but I am playing a lot deeper now.''

Pool's goals came following the arrival of second-half substitute Craig Midgley who livened Pool's front line and Stephenson admitted: "I wish he could show that all the time. We needed someone to come on and hold the ball up. We weren't doing it, but to be fair I think it was more to do with the conditions than anything else.

"Midge made a great difference, but the real change came when the referee didn't give a decision against us just before half-time. That fired us all up and thought 'let's go for it' The lads up front had never played together before and McAvoy did well. We've won three out of the last four at home and really it should be four out of four because we should have beat Plymouth.

"The second half at Hull was there for the taking as well if we really went for it. But we were without Kevin Henderson and Anth Lormor and obviously we are going to miss good players like that.''

l POOL will travel to Scunthorpe in the FA Cup on November 18 - and they go to Glanford Park for a Division Three game on Saturday.

Goals: Miller (62mins, 1-0); Stephenson (77, 2-0); Watts (90, 2-1)

Bookings: Strodder (foul), Shilton (dissent)

Referee: Matt Messias (York)

Attendance: 2,133

HARTLEPOOL (3-5-2): Williams 7; Strodder 7, Baker 7, Westwood 7; Arnison 6, Stephenson 7, Miller 7, Fitzpatrick 6 (Clark 54, 6), Shilton 6; Sperrevik 5 (MIDGLEY 54, 8), McAvoy 6. Subs (not used): Boyd, Sharp, Porter (gk)

LEYTON ORIENT (4-4-2): Bayes 7; Joseph 6, Smith 7, McGee 6, Lockwood 7; Harris 6, Brkovic 6 (Watts 69, 6), Walschaerts 6, Beall 6 (Cadiou 73); GRIFFITHS 7, Garcia 6. Subs (not used): Downer, Martin, Barrett (gk).

MAN OF THE MATCH

CRAIG Midgley - his arrival made all the difference as he brightened up the forward line