TWO goals in four starts as a professional footballer. It looks like Scott Fenwick has found it easy stepping up from the Northern League to League Two.

Instead, the striker, signed by former boss Paul Murray from Dunston in November, admits the learning curve he’s been on has been a steep one.

There has been little or no time to bed in and ease his way into the full-time game. Such is Pools’ desperate position at the foot of the table that they don’t have the time to allow Fenwick to adapt.

At times he’s looked lost. His performance at home to Morecambe was as flat as the rest of the team in the 2-0 defeat.

But on Saturday, as his first-half goal put Pools on the way to a much-needed victory.

He gave his most complete performance of his fledging professional career as he put himself about up front and admitted "I enjoy the battle with a defence - and I will battle with anyone.

"I was taught from a young age to get inside the centre halves head.

"He is then always wondering where you are and I will take a fight with anyone on the pitch, to be fair."

"The manager is old school, a bit like my Dad or Grandad is.

"I do need that sometimes though, someone in my face telling me where to be and what to do and he told me to prove him wrong.

"And hopefully I have knocked on his door and said I am good enough to lead the line for this team."

The 24-year-old added: "Every game is a tough one - especially in the situation we are in - but there are a lot of winnable games left.

"We gave narrowed the gap down and we need to develop and kick-on.

"We need to work hard on things on the training ground, see how we will set up and show that passion that we showed.

"I think we will come away with something if we do that.

"We had a rollicking off the gaffer because we need to believe in each other more.

"If we all have that winning mentality and show that belief then there is no reason why we can't."

And boss Ronnie Moore admitted Fenwick’s performance set the standard of what he expects in the coming weeks.

“Scotty isn't playing for the Dog & Duck now,’’ said Moore. “He is here and he won't get 40 goals in a season.

"He is a professional footballer and needs to look after the ball better and know the runs.

"Against Cheltenham he showed me something which I didn't think he had.

"If he performs like that every week how do you leave him out?

"He has to if he wants to stay a professional, he has to do that. I thought he was fantastic."

He added: "I have been critical of Scotty, publicly and to his face.

"I thought he stood up against Cheltenham, he has to lose that non-league mentality.

"He has to produce every week and back into players and bring others into play, to be the guy up top because (Rakish) Bingham is not that.

"He will look for scraps off Scotty and I think he did that.

"Scotty fell out with all of the Cheltenham back four, which is good. You have to be a pest and upset centre halves, which is what he did."

Fenwick spent time as a junior the academies of both Sunderland and Newcastle before becoming a Northern League forward.

Educated to degree standard, Fenwick was working as a civil engineer until then-Pools boss Paul Murray made his move.

Fenwick has plenty of belief in his own ability and has a desire to make the most of this career change.

He added: "I had to take my chance.

"I had a rollicking off the gaffer and I had a point to prove.

"I know I have come from non-league and while I had a decent game against York I have fizzled in and out since then.

"My aim was to turn up and prove a point that I am good enough to play at this level.

"I feel more comfortable and have been having a go at people and been a bit more outspoken.

"The balls haven't been coming in.

"Franksy had a go a few weeks back and said the strikers need to be getting on the end of the crosses but he was floating a lot up.

"I'm not the tallest lad, but whip it in with a bit of pace and I'll be there to tap it.’’