Craig Harrison’s assertion that he has “something special” in the dressing-room gained more credence as Hartlepool United did it again.

The it in question was transform what was an ugly first half struggle and turn it into a beautiful day on the English Riviera.

Torquay United tore at Pools in a very one-sided opening 45 minutes and heaven knows how half-time arrived with no goals on the flash scoreboard at Plainmoor.

However the second period was something different as Pools buried the memories of a woeful first half by digging out a highly-impressive and professional victory, courtesy of their leading scorers.

Rhys Oates headed in his fourth goal of the season, via a Blair Adams cross, in the 54th minute and Jonathan Franks sealed the points 14 minutes later.

That it came via a helpful deflection bothered boss Harrison not one bit.

The manager had seen his players “ride the storm”, as he described it, before emerging with their fourth away win of the season to move them up to 12th in the National League.

While the goals were well-taken and at vital times of the contest, Harrison agreed that the victory was built on character.

“Definitely,” he said. “I’ve said it before for a few weeks now that we have something special here.

“They will run through a brick wall for each other.

“We have a real tight-knit group here, not just players but staff too.

“The players will respond to everything you’ll say and if things are not going right, they will dig in and work hard.

“Sometimes we might have to grind out an ugly half or an ugly 90 minutes, but that is the sign of a good team to me.

“When you are not playing well it’s about battling it out and we did that and were a different team in the second half.”

The only down side, if there could be such a thing after a 2-0 away shut-out, was that the result barely moved Pools anywhere in the table.

Pools lifted themselves a couple of spots to 12th place and are just one point off the top seven going into a short break for an FA Cup weekend.

“It’s nice to be in the top half of the table,” he smiled as the seagulls circled overhead on the Plainmoor pitch. “It’s just like being back home!

“We are on a great run and we can’t quite just get ourselves in there (the top seven).

“But the boys know just what we have in that dressing room, they know how much it means to keep up the good run, to keep winning.

“We’re in good spirits, good form and those boys will run through a brick wall for each other and the club and that’s a special thing to have.”

Running through brick walls was clearly on the manager’s mind but for the first half it was though they were running through sand.

Pools could do nothing right, whether it was passing or trapping, and there was even a foul throw.

Did Torquay, now managed by former Sunderland midfielder Gary Owers, surprise Pools by their performance?

Possibly, as they certainly did not appear to be relegation material, forcing the visitors back throughout that first 45 minutes.

Scott Loach got down well at his near post to hold a shot from Ruairi Keating early on and produced an even better save from the excellent attacking midfielder Josh McQuoid who looked favourite to find the net.

Keating put a free header wide into the Pools support and Jamie Reid, a real handful, was afforded a free shot at goal and, fortunately, he was wide of the mark too.

Reid did put in two great crosses, one which Louis Laing made a tremendous clearance, and another which flashed in front of the away goal.

Had the Gulls reached half-time 3-0 up (or more), there could have been no complaints.

To Harrison’s credit a switch at the back paid dividends, with Liam Donnelly moved from right-back to centre-half and Michael Ledger travelling in the other direction.

And the manager did the business at half-time, ordering his players to get up the field in the second period.

They followed instructions. Luke George, who enjoyed a fine first start in the centre of midfield, was involved as Pools got the ball out to Adams on the left.

The full-back delivered the ball and Oates buried from inside the six yard box.

It was 2-0 in the 68th minute when Franks was invited to move forward and his 25-yard shot found the net via Gulls’ skipper Josh Gowling.

With Laing and Donnelly so strong, Pools were rarely stretched though Loach did make to great saves from Reid and sub Damon Lathrope, the last one right at the death.