IN December Hartlepool United travelled to Bristol Rovers for just 12 minutes of frozen action; on Tuesday night they made the most of their second chance as they earned their fourth away win of the season.

Adam Boyd's first-half volley - his fourth goal in three games in seven days - secured the win as the play-offs sneak ever closer for Chris Turner's side.

Back on that cold winter day, Pool might have been a touch thankful to see the game halted so early as Rovers twice struck the bar in what little action there was.

On Tuesday night, there was only one team going to win this game. A dominant first-half was followed by some organsied defending in the second period that brought with it Pool first clean sheet in 11 attempts since winning by the same scoreline at Swansea on November 23 to send the 116 travelling fans home happy.

The win means Pool have suffered just two defeats in 14 League games, a sparkling run that has brought 31 points from a possible 42 since November 6.

For the first time since the home defeat to Oxford on October 27, Chris Turner opted for a three-man back line as Micky Barron returned from suspension. In came Paul Stephenson for his first start since a defeat at Plymouth on November 3 and out went James Coppinger and Mark Robinson from Saturday's comfortable win over Torquay.

Pool took a little time to adapt to their line-up and it took 18 minutes before the game saw any action - when it arrived it was well worth waiting for.

Lee's long free-kick from the halfway line was helped on by Mark Tinkler and Adam Boyd found the time and space to loop a volley high into the net from eight yards out.

A minute later and 19-year-old Boyd nearly repeated his weekend feat of scoring two goals in as many minutes. He met Ritchie Humphreys' right-wing corner with his head, but nodded over the bar from six yards.

Next, and seconds later, Smith connected with a Paul Arnison cross but could only steer his header wide of the mark.

Pool were dominant and the goal spurred them on, pegging the home side in their own half as they controlled proceedings and took the game to lifeless Rovers.

Lee rifled in another free-kick from even deeper than his effort that led to the first goal and it almost brought similar reward, Humphreys drilling a low drive that troubled overworked keeper Scott Howie.

Pool should have had a penalty on the half-hour when an Andy Thompson handball was missed by referee Phil Prosser, but spotted by the on-looking assistant referee. After the linesman informed his soulmate, a free-kick was awarded right on the edge of the penalty area - it couldn't have been any closer to the penalty area - and Smith's curling effort was tipped over by Howie.

Every time Pool attacked and found Boyd, the teenager had the ability to create an extra yard of space, pulling away from the home defence and, coupled with Kevin Henderson's willingness to chase every cause, causing no end of problems.

Without their main striker in 13-goal Nathan Ellington, Rovers were toothless, rarely troubling the Pool rearguard to the extent that Anthony Williams' biggest problem of the night was trying to keep warm. He will have welcomed his half-time cuppa.

The home side put Pool under pressure from the restart, Sergio Ommell screwing awfully wide from an offside position and forcing a couple of corners that came to nothing.

Pool then started to get their grip back on proceedings, not troubling Howie, but taking the sting out of the game to stifle the home side.

Smith went into the book for a foul on Carlos Sanchez-Lopez and from Vitalijs Astafjevs free-kick (they like their foreigners in the West Country), Williams had his first block to make, going low to keep out Kevin Gall.

Tinkler was harshly penalised for a foul on Mark Walters and after complaining saw the free-kick moved on ten yards and with 20 minutes to go Foran shot wide from close range.

Pool had to stand firm and try to take some of the pressure off their back line by showing some of the attacking ability so prominent in the first-half.

Jermaine Easter came on after Henderson ran himself into the ground, Turner hoping his pace could cause some problems on the counter attack.

Smith found space on the left and whipped in a cross that evaded Boyd and with it went the chance to kill the game off.

In the end they didn't need it and they go into the big derby games at York and Darlington with plenty of confidence.

Goals: Boyd (19mins, 0-1)

Bookings: Mauge, Foran, Smith, Hogg (foulz) Tinkler (dissent)

Referee: Phil Prosser (Gloucester)

Attendance: 6,482

BRISTOL ROVERS (3-5-2): Howie 7; Jones 6, Thomson 7, Foran 6; Wilson 6 (WALTERS 62, 7), Mauge 6, Astafjevs 6, Hogg 6, Sanchez-Lopez 6, Ommel 6, Gall 6 (Cameron 74). Subs (not used): McKeever, Plummer, Graves.

HARTLEPOOL (3-5-2): Williams 6; Westwood 7, Barron 7, Lee 8; Smith 8, Tinkler 8, Stephenson 6 (Clarke 81), Humphreys 6, Arnison 7; Henderson 7 (Easter 73), BOYD 8. Subs (not used): Hollund, Robinson, Coppinger.

MAN OF THE MATCH

ADAM Boyd - his array of silky skills opened the game up in the first half

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