Luke who is scoring for Pools (From The Northern Echo)

Luke who is scoring for Pools

8:00am Monday 30th January 2012 in Hartlepool United News By Nick Loughlin

FIVE games, three goals and another man of the match award for his collection - Luke James has made some impression at Hartlepool United.

The 17-year-old from Amble, Northumberland, signed professional terms in November, made his breakthrough in December and ended January with two goals in Pools' 4-0 victory over Carlisle.

"It was another great afternoon and everything seemed to work again,'' he reflected.

"It was a great result and it was even better than the last game.''

James was supposed to be tightly marked by Lubo Michalik, but gave him the runaround and, despite the difference in size and experience, James loved the meeting.

"It was hard playing against Michalik - he was up me the whole time every time I got it,'' he said. "It was a good challenge and I like playing against big players. It was a good battle and I enjoyed it.''

James put Pools in front early on and capped the display with a tenacious second.

"For my first goal Sweens tried a flick on and it just bounced for me,'' he said.

"It was on my left foot and I just tried to smash it in the bottom corner.

"It got a bit of a deflection but it's still mine and I was just happy to see it fly in the back of the net.

"The first goal is the most important and we needed that after the way things had gone at home.

"We're on a run now and hopefully we'll keep that going and start pushing up the league.

And he added: "For my second I closed the keeper down and managed to get a touch.

"Brownie did well to close the right-back down and he toe-poked it into my direction - I thought 'I'm through on goal here'.

"I saw Sweens in the box and thought 'should I pass it?'.

"But then I thought 'no, I'll try the shot' and luckily it went in the top corner.

"I'm still not getting used to it though - it still feels like a dream. I don't know what my celebration is about - I haven't got a clue!"