THERE’S not been a great deal of entertainment and enjoyment at Victoria Park of late. In 90 minutes yesterday, Hartlepool United went a long way to correcting that.

Without a home win since August 18, Ronnie Moore was quick to point out that the miserable run is over.

A scrappy win over Cheltenham in the FA Cup was followed up by an encouraging and thorough 3-1 win over Leyton Orient.

"The pleasing thing is that it stops you lot shouting at me that we haven't won at home in the league,’’ he quipped. "You can't be throwing that at me now - we've won in the FA Cup and the league!

"We've got to kick on - this was the start of a tough six-match run for us.

"We've got five more of the top seven to play, so there's food for thought for us.

"But we go to Mansfield in better heart, knowing that if we produce what we did in the second half here then we should not be frightened of anyone.’’

Trailing in Sunday’s lunch-time kick-off, Pools responded to turn the game around. Kudos Oyenuga levelled with a penalty, before Jake Gray took over with two goals, the second of which was a fine strike.

Supporters left Victoria Park with a smile, the players played with a spring in their step. The staid and flat nature of recent displays was replaced with midfield energy, hard work and creativity.

Moore fielded four loan signings and each and everyone made an impact.

With the return of Carl Magnay to midfield after missing six games through an unwarranted suspension, Pools were much improved. How they have missed his authority in there.

Of the loanees, Gray’s breaks from deep and willingness to link up with the strikers brought two goals. Kai Naismith showed some intelligence and trickery on the right flank, Mikael Mandron, signed from Sunderland was ever-willing up front, and at the back Adam Jackson improved on last weekend’s debut after moving from Middlesbrough.

Their arrivals left Moore with a substitutes’ bench made up of those who have been first-team regulars this season.

"We have new faces and it does take a bit of time,’’ added the manager. "There are a lot of young lads too, who are still on the learning curve, but I thought we just about deserved it today.

“We made some loan signings, they’ve only had one session together and Kai has a wand of a left-foot. He keeps the ball, keeps possession and doesn’t give it away.

“Jake gets forward, we’ve not had players who want to get forward like that. Jake has talent – not the most physical, but full of energy and can go past people.

“It’s nice for a young lad who is an attack-minded player to get goals and he needs the passes in there for him.’’

Once again, Pools didn’t start on the front foot.

Goalkeeper Trevor Carson, wearing a black armband in memory of his former Sunderland team-mate Martin Fulop last week, was again exceptional.

He first made a stop on seven minutes, keeping out a close-range Mathieu Baudry effort and only a fine covering defensive header at the far post from Michael Duckworth prevented Os striker Ollie Palmer meeting a deep and teasing cross.

The opening goal soon arrived. The Os moved the ball into the penalty area and, as Jackson was beaten to it, the ball popped out for Bradley Pritchard to knock in.

Pools trailing at home? It’s not the first time it’s happened recently.

But while the past it’s been enough for some players to go into their shells and fade away, this time they didn’t let it affect them.

Kudus Oyenuga has been a slow burner at Pools. Signed in the summer, he only made his first start last weekend, scoring against Cheltenham.

When his cross from the left fizzed into the area, Os defender Alan Dunne needlessly stuck out an arm and fisted it away.

Referee Paul Tierney spotted it, not many others did, although it was telling that complaints from the visiting party were minimal.

In the absence of Billy Paynter, missing with an Achilles problem, the penalty was up for grabs – and how Oyenuga grabbed it.

He raced 40 yards across the pitch to grab the ball and didn’t mess about in putting it past keeper Charlie Grainger.

Oyenuga’s next involvement, however, wasn’t quite as accurate. Drifting into the middle, there was space to shoot, but he only managed to clear the roof of the Rink End and land the ball in the car park.

Carson made a fine, one-handed reaction save to deny Lloyds James and keep Pools level.

Moore has been looking for an experienced centre-half, but has one in his ranks. Matthew Bates was solid for the third game in a row in that position again yesterday.

At the start of the second-half, his defensive header helped clear some danger and Pools blocked Jay Simpson in the area.

At the other end, Bates almost scored, heading a Naismith corner over.

The Os were having plenty of joy on the flank, with right-back Sean Clohessy getting forward and getting dangerous crosses over.

Oyenuga was replaced by Rhys Oates to try and negate his threat.

And Pools soon went ahead.

Mandron worked deep on the left and rolled the ball into the path of Gray. He moved inside and could have passed to Magnay, in space and in a more central position. Instead he shot low at goal, and it may have been deflected, but it was certainly his goal.

After seven goals in 12 games for Crystal Palace Under-21s this season, the midfielder is a threat.

His second goal to clinch victory was a fine effort.

Naismith held the ball up, waited for Gray to burst ahead from deep and played a delightful pass inside the defence.

Gray was onto it, and there was only one place his finish was going – across goalkeeper Grainger and into the far corner.

"I think if the third goal is scored in the Premier League, it would be talked about for ages,’’ concluded Moore.

"It was a fantastic ball inside the full-back and a great finish by Jake. You've got to bear in mind they’ve only had one session together.

"Kai only joined us on Saturday so for him to come and link up like that was great.’’