IAN CLARK last night eclipsed his old club as Hartlepool United enjoyed a 3-1 win over Doncaster Rovers in the LDV Vans Trophy at Victoria Park.

Clark netted one goal and won a decisive penalty two second-half minutes later as Pool made it six wins in six games to again progress to the last eight of the Northern Section of the much-maligned competition.

The wing-back joined Pool from Belle Vue in November 1997 and soon scored against his old club in February of the same season in a 3-1 triumph - the Belle Vue club's last visit to Victoria Park during an ill-fated season that saw them drop into the Nationwide Conference.

And last night he again proved the scourge of his former club as he netted his first goal of a season distruped by injury.

Mark Tinkler opened the scoring and after Neil Campbell levelled, Clark earned Pool the lead. Tommy Miller - watched by a posse of scouts from the top-flight of clubs North and south of the Border - netted goal number 13 from the penalty spot.

As expected, boss Chris Turner stuck with the same side for the fifth consecutive game and it was Miller, two goal hero in Saturday's win over Exeter, who dug out the first opening on eight minutes.

After picking up Tinkler's pass he surged forward and laid the ball off for Kevin Henderson whose firm strike was held by the diving Barry Richardson.

The Conference side were proving tough nut to break down and looked dangerous on the break with former Halifax runner Jamie Paterson proving a handful for Paul Arnison on the left side, although Pool keeper Anthony Williams was largely untroubled.

Williams' counterpart Richardson was the busier of the two and he went full stretch to pluck a dangerous Arnison cross off the head of Henderson.

Miller unleashed a drive from 25 yards and a similar position to his opener on Saturday, but it deflected off Barry Miller for a corner.

Stephenson played the set-piece short to Westwood and when Henderson headed back across goal, Tinkler was on hand to loop the ball over the head of Richardson into the farcorner of the net.

Pacy forward Neil Campbell broke from deep and after teeing up Colin Hawkins, theon-rushing midfielder lost his footing as he was about to shoot and the chance went begging.

Five minutes bfore the break, Whitley Bay blower Graham Laws denied Pool what appeared to be a blaant penalty with a decision that caused a furore among the Pool players and fans in the 2,466 crowd.

Craig Midgley was played in by Henderson and as he homed in on goal, former Darlington defender Simon Shaw trip the striker from behind - only for the official to amazingly hand Pool a corner as his static assistant looked on unfazed.

Visiting boss Steve Wignall changed his formation after the break when he threw Paterson into a three-pronged attack and it paid instant dividend as Campbell flicked in Shaw's dangerous cross to level the tie four minutes after the restart.

But Clark - incessantly booed by the visiting fans - soon restored the advantage when his spectaculative cross-cum-shot deceived Richardson and nestled into the far corner of the net.

And two minutes later it was 3-1 thanks to Miller's 13th goal of the season. Clark broke into the area and was pulled back by Simon Marples and after the defender was booked for arguing the harsh decision with Mr Laws, Miller netted.

Afterwards, Rovers failed to pose any threat to Pool's winning streak - or an unbeaten home run that now stretches to 12 League and Cup outings