FOLLOWING the ridiculous came the sublime.

From Saturday’s disappointment as Hartlepool United fell to a soft home defeat, last night they thumped Halifax.

Two goals up after seven minutes and it was as good as game over as Pools won at home for the first time since October 7 and earned their biggest win since February.

“It’s pleasing, we all knew on Saturday from myself to staff, players and supporters that it wasn’t good enough,’’ reflected boss Craig Harrison.

“What a way to react, an excellent reaction and I’ve come to know them better now by the day.

“We worked hard and had some real quality moments.

“To go two up after seven minutes,…. It didn’t take an awful lot. We had a meeting Sunday and a chat, no pointing fingers, but as a group we knew it wasn’t good enough and we spoke about where we had to be.

“When we played with tempo we are a better tea, and it showed. If we take quick throws, quick free-kicks we are better for it.’’

Without as much as a shot in the last game and a tepid attacking show at Boreham Wood previously, Pools bagged two goals in the opening seven minutes. Unchartered territory.

The Shaymen kicked off and within seconds Rhys Oates won possession to set the early tone.

It didn’t allow the visitors any time to even smash the ball forward, it forced them back and set Pools up for the finest of starts.

Nicky Deverdics was returned to left-back after a spell in midfield, where he has been a bit subdued.

It took him three minutes and 45 seconds to make his mark last night.

Breaking forward from left-back he cut into the middle to exchange passes with Michael Woods and then dink the ball over advancing keeper Sam Johnson.

After seven minutes it was two.

Oates burst into the area and was felled by Scott Garner. Referee Joe Johnson was right on top of it to award what looked a soft penalty.

Liam Donnelly, with penalty successes for Northern Ireland under-21s to his name, confidently netted.

Even Scott Loach was getting in on the early fun.

A giant clearance from the keeper bounced towards goal and keeper Johnson was very uneasy as he backpedalled to push the ball out from just under the bar.

The visitors were the worst team seen at Victoria Park since Pools on Saturday.

Louis Laing stopped in his tracks as he stormed forward from centre-half and homed in on goal. The last time he did that was for Notts County at Victoria Park last season and he scored.

From the free-kick, 25 yards out, Deverdics tried his luck but crashed his shot into the wall.

Pools didn’t have to wait long for a third to come.

They again swept through the listless visiting midfield, and the ball was swept to the left side of the penalty area where Rhys Oates picked his spot and curled a fine effort around Johnson for his fifth of the season.

Soon after the goal, Loach saved from a Tom Denton header. The big striker bore all the trademarks of an old school centre-forward, without any of the class. He later had a free header six yards out, and planted his effort wayward.

Oates almost made it four two minutes after his strike.

He was fed again with a neat pass and, from the same spot he fired in another low shot, keeper Johnson finally getting his hands to something and keeping it out.

Pools moved the ball around easily, Woods orchestrating from midfield. When he plays well, Pools play well.

And when Devante Rodney is showboating and trying flicks and tricks, you know things are going well.

Pools ended the half three goals up. It’s almost a year since they last were in such a position, against Morecambe and an awful lot has gone on since then.

The second-half? Well Pools kept the ball, moved it around well and could have had more than the one they got.

Oates was strong in driving into the area, Woods picked up possession, sold the dummies in defence a dummy, and teed up Connor Newton for a tap-in.

A bankruptcy order has been filed against Gary Coxall, the former Pools chairman, in the county court in Southend on October 11.