THE shirt might not have been as drenched, but 12 months on, the excitement level was just the same for Neale Cooper.

At Peterborough a year ago today, Hartlepool United opened their season with a thrilling 4-3 win, coming from behind to seal victory in the closing minutes as Cooper perspired himself to hero status with the fans.

On Saturday, they repeated the feat to get the better of Bradford City and go a long way to knocking those who believed Pool had shot their bolt in losing in the play-offs last season.

It's been said a thousand times before, but this side has so much spirit and character they don't know when they are beaten.

So, even after Dean Windass put Pool one-down, there was never any panic.

Instead they took the game to the visitors and, courtesy of a bizzare Hugh Robertson free-kick, got their season off to a winning start again.

And it was the first time Pool had won a home league game on the opening day of the season since goals from Malcolm Moore and Allan Gauden secured a 2-0 win over Newport County back in 1974.

"It was another thriller,'' said Cooper. "We looked sharp and bright and I saw that in the players as they warmed-up before the game.

"At times we tried too hard to get balls in behind the defence, but when we started playing the ball to feet in the second-half, things were better and we made things happen.

"We showed character to bounce back again, but at half-time I said 'get the ball to Boydy (Adam Boyd) and he will win the game for us'.

"He came back this summer in great nick and it's pleasing for Adam that he is doing so well.''

He added: "Bradford are a decent side and they won't struggle this season like some people say. We are at our best when we get the ball down and move it around quickly and we caused them problems when we did that.

"We were disappointed with their goal, there was a look of offside about it. It was hard for the players out there because it was so warm.

"Windass is still a great player, strong and holds the ball up well, but I thought Nelse (Micky Nelson) and Westy (Chris Westwood) were solid at the back again.''

Windass is a wily customer and a big threat, Chris Westwood made a vital defensive header inside the six yard box, which brought applause from the striker and, from the corner, Tinkler blocked a goalbound Windass shot.

At the other end, Ross Turnbull clawed away Robertson's curling 25-yard shot and then Boyd looked likely to score after nipping in between Turnbull and defender David Wetherall only to see his angled shot knocked off the line.

After a quiet first-half, Joel Porter came to life after the break, wriggling his way through three defenders only for Boyd to poke wide of an empty net.

Jim Provett stopped Michael Symes from scoring, but the keeper was soon controversially beaten.

Windass looked suspiciously offside as he got behind the back four, collected Darren Holloway's knock forward and rolled the ball across Provett into the far corner.

Turnbull saved with his legs to deny Antony Sweeney after he surged from deep. The midfielder came into his own in the last 20 minutes as he exploited gaps in the defence with the Bradford midfield unable to check his lung-bursting runs.

Boyd was tripped in the area as he was about to shoot and, from the penalty spot, rolled the ball beyond Turnbull.

Signed from Middlesbrough on loan, the England under-19 international who played once on loan for Darlington last season, was being watched by Boro's goalkeeping coach Paul Barron, who had been despatched to Victoria Park.

And Barron must have felt for his young prodigy when he was beaten by a Robertson free-kick with nine minutes to go.

Plenty of keepers have been beaten by a Robertson special, but the Scot unveiled a new weapon on Saturday. His 30-yard effort went around the defensive wall and, as it bounced in the six-yard box, Turnbull dropped to his knees to collect.

The ball then turned like a Shane Warne off-break and found the net for the winner.

Result: Hartlepool United 2 Bradford City 1.

Read more about Hartlepool here.