Full-time: Hartlepool United 2 East Thurrock United 0

NO sooner had the announcement been made, and David Hughes was at it again. The East Thurrock goalkeeper was inspired as his side were beaten by Hartlepool United in the FA Cup.

And, as the applause rang around Victoria Park as he was named the sponsors’ man of the match, he didn’t have time to dwell on the news.

Instead the 22-year-old was diving across his goal to keep out another Pools effort. If it wasn’t for the performance of the electrician, the lights would have long gone out on East Thurrock.

Pools had 19 shots at goal. That’s more in one game than they managed in the first two months of this season.

Granted there’s a difference in the quality and strength of the opposition to what Pools are normally faced with, but they still have to be beaten.

Just ask Exeter, beaten by Warrington – who are in the same Evo-Stick League as Darlington – on Friday night in a proper muck and nettles FA Cup tie.

With Pools bottom of the Football League, perhaps some had this down as a shock. It was certainly a banana skin and perhaps the Pools of a month ago would have been nervous about this tie.

Instead, with new boss Paul Murray gradually getting his message across three weeks after taking charge and the players responding to his methods, it was job done.

Hughes was twice beaten, Jonathan Franks getting the better of him. First Franks took the ball inside the opposition half and ran forward. Instead of feeding Sidney Schmeltz, he went alone and cracked a drive low past Hughes.

There was nothing the keeper could do about it, but the second goal came from his error.

Marlon Harewood’s cross should have been routinely gathered, but instead the ball slipped through his grasp to give Franks a nod in.

Such was the nature of his performance, the keeper was forgiven for his mistake.

“Games like this make you realise what it takes to be a professional. You have to take it seriously – I do anyway – but it’s about training harder and eating the right things,’’ he said.

“When you are on the pitch you get into your zone and concentrate. They were stronger and fitter, so it’s hard to chase them.

“I was pretty happy making saves from Marlon Harewood – I used to watch West Ham and I’ve watched him a lot there.

“He was a hero of mine, so that was a good experience.’’

He added: “I was beaten twice, but made some good saves I was pleased with. The second goal was a mistake. I watched the cross come in and I was trying to do two things too quickly – thinking about getting the ball back up the pitch and I took my eye off it.

“We normally play in front of 100 or so people so it was great to play in front of almost 3,000. Everyone was really nice, I had a couple of comments shouted at me, but as a goalkeeper that’s always the case if there’s 100 or 3,000!

“Everyone has been really nice to everyone at the club. Hartlepool have been brilliant with us all and I wish them well.’’

Hughes and his team-mates were applauded off the pitch by the Pools squad.

They had the game’s first chance on 11 minutes when winger Mitchell Gilbey cut inside and fired low at goal, but Scott Flinders got enough of a touch to the ball to divert onto the post.

Flinders also had to make an uneasy save when David Bryant’s shot bounced up in front of him.

But it was all about the keeper at the other end.

Hughes made a brave stop to deny Franks, a cracking double save to keep out Harewood’s shot and follow up header, saved from Michael Duckworth and again denied Harewood.

There was one second—half save made from Franks he had no right to make. Played in by Harewood, Franks had an open goal to tap into, but took his time, took a touch and Hughes dived across goal to somehow keep it out.

Rocks’ boss John Coventry said: “We watched Warrington beat Exeter on Friday night, sat in the hotel and looked at it. You know there’s going to be a couple of FA Cup shocks – and when one happens early like that think is that going to b e the one?

“But the players can get confidence from that – I know I did.

“It’s a different situation; they are playing on their home pitch. I’d have liked to have been at home.’’