FOR Matty Robson, his return to Hartlepool United was an enjoyable one.

Given plenty of stick from the home terraces who used to praise and criticise him in equal measure, the Carlisle United left-winger was able to have the last laugh as he plundered an 85th minute winner.

After being tripped by Neil Austin, which brought a second yellow card for the right-back, Robson made the most of the situation to creep in unchecked at the far post, and find the room to drill in the decisive goal.

His mocking gesture to the home crowd said it all - even though they had entertained him for a bit.

"I was laughing at them, some of their chants were brilliant - I think the best one was 'Matty Robson, his chin is offside'," he said. "Some of the lads were joking about it in the dressing room, I heard it and I was in bits laughing.

"But to get the goal gives me the last laugh, especially at my old club where I spent so long at.

"I could pick my spot for the goal, sometimes you can have too much time, but I knew what I wanted to do.''

Robson and Evan Horwood swopped clubs in 2009, one freed by Pools, one by Carlisle and faced each other on Saturday.

While Robson was elated, Horwood was deflated.

"It's a game we can't believe we have lost,'' admitted the Hartlepool-born left-back. "We were playing really well, but we need to be more professional and see the game out.

"We started well, they didn't know what had hit them, but the incidents gave them a lift.

"Don't get me wrong, Peter and Aussie are good players, who we would miss but we have players on the bench to come on and do a job, they have to be ready and that's what they are there for.

"They didn't really trouble us, how many shots did Scott have to save? Not many really, was there.

"From back to front we were bright, a mad five minutes killed us when they have gone for it.''