LAST season, and Wycombe Wanderers were held up by Ronnie Moore as a benchmark of what can be achieved.

After surviving relegation the previous campaign, the Chairboys soon turned into promotion contenders.

Moore was sure his Hartlepool United side could follow suit - but it’s not quite worked out like that at Victoria Park has it?

Instead, Pools have floundered and dropped down the table to an uneasy spot in the bottom few.

Perhaps this performance and victory against the Chairboys can be the catalyst for better things.

Pools played with a determination, spirit and attitude too often lacking this season. And how they needed those characteristics, second-half especially.

Pools have not beat Wycombe since 2007 – eight defeats and one draw ago. Perhaps they were due a win.

“It’s about time we beat them, it’s been a while and we can come back and throw a custard pie at them – thank you very much,’’ quipped Moore.

But he could afford a smile after that one. The second half lasted an eternity as Pools sat deep, defended firmly and in numbers against a barrage of possession, long balls and big men.

For once, Pools weren’t bullied. They gave as good as they got when it mattered, Scott Harrison and Adam Jackson both immense in the middle of the back four.

In front and around them, while it was frustrating when Pools kept giving the ball away and allowing the visitors the chance to build more attacks, no-one gave up the fight.

Trevor Carson and Harrison fell out at one stage, such was the goalkeeper’s determination to force his players out of the penalty area and further upfield.

Moore loved that, he likes passion and determination from his players. Much more of it and Pools will soon sail away from the bottom few places.

“We saw it out and we hope it’s the catalyst for a good run,’’ reflected Moore. “We go again and the dressing room was unbelievable, they would think they have won four or five in a row.

“We are hoping to kick on now, that’s the big thing.

“Confidence comes from wins. We are capable of four, five wins and the league is wide open.

“Turn up and play for four or five games and we won’t be in the mess we are in.’’

And, while Moore has long been an advocate of having an older head in the centre of defence, the performances and understanding of Jackson and Harrison bodes well.

Matthew Bates has been solid of late, but he’s out with a toe injury.

Jackson has been signed on loan from Middlesbrough for the rest of the season and he’s adapted swiftly to League Two.

“It was a young back four, two young centre-halves who had a big test against Derby last week and I looked at it and they were up against one up top that day,’’ said Moore.

“This week it was two – and more coming on all the time as the game progressed.

“We knew they were clever up top and they changed it and we dealt with it all.

“Jacko is a good player, no doubt. He’s grown into the game all the time. He had a baptism of fire in his first game with Cheltenham in the FA Cup and he’s got better.

“First-half and he bossed it. Fantastic and he’s coming along nicely and we have him to the end of the season and he will leave here a better player for it, that’s for sure.’’

Pools goal came from a new source in Nathan Thomas. Signed last week from Mansfield, the left winger showed his potential with some direct wing play on the left.

His work and ball in for Fenwick’s match winner was first-class. The last time Pools saw delivery like that was when he did it for the Stags against Pools seven weeks earlier.

He had already looked like creating an opener when he robbed full-back Jason McCarthy of the ball and raced to the area, only to be let down by a lack of support. When it arrived, his pass evaded Jake Gray.

Thomas went off with cramp in a calf, a precautionary measure. On this performance they don’t want to lose him through injury already.

Moore added: “Nathan hasn’t played since he played against us, made the goal, put one across goal for someone to get onto. He’s a tight calf that’s all and he’s the one who can light the blue torch paper. As a striker I would be licking my lips at that.’’