HARTLEPOOL United thumped League One leaders Leyton Orient in style - cracking home four goals.

Pools dominated the first half, passing their opponents to death at times, but had only one goal to show for it.

That came when Ian Moore saw his first shot saved, but reacted to net the loose ball and push his shot in from 16 yards.

After James Brown, Andy Monkhouse and Ritchie Humphreys all saw good chances go begging, Pools knew they should have been in complete command.

Brown did get on the scoresheet minutes after the restart. Moore battled away to win possession and his drive beat keeper Stuart Nelson and bounced into the net.

But JJ Melligan gave the home side hope, smashing in from distance via the underside of the bar.

It promised to set up a grandstand finish, but there was more goals from Pools to come.

First Monkhouse rattled in a drive from 20 yards into the top corner after exchanging passes with Joel Porter.

Orient again reduced the gap when Charlie Daniels cracked in - but when the pressure was on, Pools responded in style.

Michael Mackay and Liddle combined to play Moore, in his best display of the season, into space and the striker rolled his shot low into the net.

Orient remain top of the table, but Pools are just three points behind.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Jan Budtz,Jamie McCunnie, Micky Nelson, Godwin Antwi, Ritchie Humphreys, James Brown, Willie Boland, Gary Liddle, Andy Monkhouse, Richard Barker, Ian Moore Subs: Robbie Elliott, Ben Clark, Joel Porter, Mackay, Lee-Barrett

LEYTON ORIENT: Stuart Nelson, Alton Thelwell, Tamika Makandawire, JJ Melligan, Adam Chambers, Wayne Gray, Paul Terry, Sean Thornton, Wayne Cordon, Adam Boyd, Aiden Palmer. Subs: Charlie Daniels, Glenn Morris, Sam Oji, Jason Demetriou, Efe Echanomi

Referee: Mark Haywood (Leeds)

Watch the match highlights from Monday, September 24