MORECAMBE boss Jim Bentley piled praise on Nathan Thomas after seeing the Hartlepool United winger torment his side.

Thomas scored twice and created another as Pools thumped the Shrimps 5-2 at the Globe Arena.

Bentley, who admitted defeat was his lowest point as a manager, said: “Thomas on the left side caused problems and that was the best individual performance against us this season’’.

The attacker missed Tuesday’s defeat at Carlisle with a chest infection, but returned in style.

Thomas teed up Michael Woods for the opener and the midfielder joined Bentley in saluting the in-form winger.

"Nathan is frustrating at times but he's unplayable at times,’’ said Woods.

"Sometimes when you are watching you think 'what are you doing coming inside? That's what the full-back wants you to do'

"I want to see him getting his head down, run down the line and skin his marker like I know he can.

"He's so fast and when he performs like that, he's unplayable.

"Trust me, you want him on your team in training, we see it day in day out in training, he's lightning fast.

"He's got full-backs on toast, he could have had a couple more if I'm being ultra-critical.

"He's great to have in your side. He's good at relieving pressure, he can get you 40 yards up the field.’’

Woods netted only his second goal of the season on Saturday, but Pools more than coped with the absence of 15-goal top scorer Billy Paynter, who was missing with a hamstring injury.

"We were a threat going forward,’’ said Woods. "We've probably relied on Billy and I think it's important that we chip in [with goals] from all over the park.

"It was nice to get a goal and Nath chipped in with a couple.

"I've not scored nearly enough goals, got into a lot of positions, shanked a few that the lads have given me a bit of stick for.

"But the most important thing was we bounced back from Carlisle, so that's one defeat in nine now, hopefully we'll kick on and get a run going.’’