GAMES against Morecambe offer hope to Hartlepool United.

First home game of last season? A home win over the Shrimpers and Ronnie Moore’s men were all set. It didn’t quite work out like that.

Last season, they gave their most dominant away display in a 5-2 away win. The hope and promise of that wasn’t built upon.

And last night they romped to a three-goal lead, and secured a first victory in six games. They scored three goals in 14 first-half minutes, ending their drought in some style.

Can they now press on and build on this one? The next couple of games will determine that and Pools go to Accrington Stanley on Monday.

Pools were edgy and nervous in seeing off the Shrimps. It wasn’t as comfortable as it should have been; they looked in the second half like a team devoid of confidence.

But after such a horrific run, no goals in 460 minutes of football, their second-half failings were perhaps understandable.

Manager Craig Hignett changed formation and made four alterations to his side; the 3-5-2 set-up changed Pools’ outlook.

They were without Matthew Bates at the back, but Liam Donnelly and Scott Harrison performed steadily enough to ensure Toto Nsiala could be carried through the game.

Michael Woods and Nicky Deverdics, at least in the first-half, brought some drive to the midfield, with the ability to create openings a welcome boon.

“Three up and it was good stuff, we wanted a quick start and got it,’’ admitted Hignett.

“First was really good, a bit of luck with the penalty and a really good team goal for the third.

“We want to push on and we didn’t and we sat off and tried to see it through without affecting it.

“Three up and you take your foot off the gas and it’s hard to get going again. They got a one at the end to make it closer.

“We knew set-pieces would be important and didn’t defend the second on well. Most important tonight was the result, we knew it could be scrappy.

“We changed the way we played and it worked.

“We didn’t play or be as pleasing on the eye as it can be with 4-3-3. Two up front and we went a bit longer and it worked and scored three and then stopped doing what we were doing.’’

Pools’ home form this year has been a big disappointment with only nine wins in all competitions from 28 games. Desperate stuff.

They had gone five without a win and five without a goal. Not since Lewis Alessandra scored against Accrington on November 28 had they scored.

But ten minutes into last night’s game and the drought was over. Then 14 minutes later it was party time with three goals in the bag.

Padraig Amond took a touch to control, turn and loop a measured volley over keeper Barry Roche, who was slow to react as the ball nestled in the net.

The second soon arrived.

Jake Carroll, left wing back, crossed and defender Ryan Edwards handed. Amond was accused of pushing the defender in the back.

“We all felt a foul by Podge against Ryan, but it was a handball against Ryan,’’ fumed visiting boss Jim Bentley. “I can’t believe it, and you go two-down.

“People go on about decisions and it’s not a handball, it’s a foul for us. Instead it’s two and they are then playing without fear.’’

Referee Seb Stocksbridge had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.

Alessandra missed from the spot on Boxing Day. He wasn’t starting last night, leaving the job to Billy Payner.

The regular spot kick taker wasn’t going to miss and sent Roche the wrong way.

A free-kick from the right by Luke Conlon was net by Edwards and he flicked a header wide.

But on 24 minutes came a third for Pool, with a lovely move capped off by a rare event – a Nicky Featherstone goal.

Michael Woods, instrumental in being recalled behind the front two, clipped a lovely weighted pass for Featherstone to show commendable composure to finish for his second goal of the season.

The visitors managed to hit the bar in injury time as Rhys Turner managed to miss when it was easier to score.

That was some fortune for Pools, but there weren’t so lucky when a low shot from Andrew Fleming was deflected by Amond into the net.

A two-goal lead at home and Pools should have been coasting. Instead they sat deep, inviting pressure and the crowd’s nerves were to the fore.

The scoreline was reduced towards the end, as a Paul Mullin shot in a frantic scramble ended up in the net, but there wasn’t enough time for any more panic.

Pools ended their year with a win; how they need to start 2017 with another.