GOAL hero Thomas Butler revealed his match-winning goal on Saturday was born straight out of the Hartlepool United training ground.

The 24-year-old winger skipped past the challenges of two defenders and played an old fashioned one-two with striker Eifion Williams before tucking the ball past Dagenham goalkeeper Tony Roberts to book a second round date with former Pool player Mark Cooper and his Tamworth side at Victoria Park.

"Eifion (Williams) did well for me for the goal," said the tricky wide man who scored his second goal in three games at the weekend.

"We had been working on it in training and it is crucial the timing when you release the ball.

"But I thought I was going to trip over the ball when I got it because it got stuck under my feet and I had to dig it out. But the goal eased the pressure off us."

Butler had to sacrifice his natural instincts to attack when he had to tuck in and defend when the Pool middle four were faced with the visitor's five-man midfield in the first half.

But when manager Martin Scott gambled to secure his side's victory in the later stages of the second half he allowed his winger to break free of his defensive shackles and express himself.

"You can rely on the people in defence and have confidence in the people around you," acknowledged Butler. "People like Richie (Humphreys), Micky Nelson and Darren Williams have all got great experience and don't give much away; which is important at this level.

"It helps that the team is playing with a lot more confidence. If you're a winger and the defender's behind you are playing well behind you don't have to worry about defending yourself as much.

"Richie is playing really well behind me and it is good knowing that nine times out of ten he is going to deal with it."

Butler says there is nothing stopping the current Hartlepool team building on their recent run and insists they can go one better than last term's achievements.

Pool started poorly at the beginning of the season as they struggled to cope with a horrendous injury list and the bedding in of new players.

But after four consecutive victories Butler believes Pool have finally turned the corner and the only way is up.

"We've been unlucky with a few injuries this season like Joel Porter and Adam Boyd and if we had them fit we would be really strong," said the Dublin-born winger.

"There isn't a Chelsea of this league going around beating everyone. It is very tight and it will probably stop like that until about January where it starts panning out a bit.

"If we could put a really good run together with ten or 12 wins we could create a good gap at the top. But I can also see it going down to the wire for both promotion and relegation."