SINCE arriving in Hartlepool a little over a year ago, Dimi Konstantopoulos and Joel Porter have struck up a real friendship.

The big Greek and the little Aussie may appear a strange combination, Konstantopoulos towering above his soul mate.

But on Saturday the pair were giants as, from opposite ends of the pitch, they helped Hartlepool United into eighth place in League One and make it 23 points from a possible 27 at home this season.

For long periods, Pool were on the back foot against a vibrant Doncaster Rovers side.

They tore Pool apart in the first-half, creating seven good chances to Pool's one.

But Konstantopoulos cuts a dominant figure and, when Pool finally enjoyed a spell of decent possession, it was Porter's turn to take the praise.

Dejected after being omitted from the starting line-up, Porter was thrown on with 20 minutes to go.

First he headed Pool level before his lob dropped out of the night sky like a blazing firework falling back to earth and nestled in the net to steal the most improbable of victories.

Manager Neale Cooper described Rovers as "the best footballing team I have seen in my time at this club''.

But this was the little and large show; not that Rovers found it funny.

Porter has had plenty of chances since arriving at Pool last October, Konstantopoulos has had to play the waiting game, only getting his big break in recent weeks. While Porter's 88th minute goal won the points, it was only a fine full-length save to paw away Paul Green's goalbound effort seconds before that allowed Porter to pinch the points.

And Porter is delighted to see his big mate shine in the first-team after 12 months in the reserves.

"I'm so pleased for him - that save he pulled off in the last couple of minutes was definitely world class,'' he said.

"I'm not the only one with confidence in him. He's done fantastically well and has really taken the chance.

"We came to the club at near enough the same time, but it's different in my position because as a striker you are going to get a chance.

"But as a goalkeeper you have to be patient and bide your time. Luckily enough he's got a chance and taken it.

"For anyone moving to a new club it's a little bit strange, but he's waited a long time and credit to the lad that he's taken the time out to assess his future and adapted to the English game and way of life.

"It's the sign of a good player and he fully deserved the man of the match award - I only got 15 minutes, but he was good for 90.''

As Rovers attacked from the off, with ex-Pool loanee James Coppinger a constant tormentor on the right flank, Pool were suffering.

With two central midfielders in Paul Green and Ricky Ravenhill setting the example, Doncaster's workrate never ceased.

When Pool had the ball, they struggled to do much with it because of Rovers' graft.

Three minutes in and Coppinger crossed for Neil Roberts to volley at Konstantopoulos and that set the tone.

Ben Clark has proved in a handful of appearances what a good acquisition he is and the ex-Sunderland man slid in to deny Gregg Blundell with a great saving tackle.

Coppinger chipped onto the roof of the net and Green shot at Konstantopoulos' legs from eight yards.

But when Coppinger crossed again the ball was bundled over the line by Roberts.

On the opposite flank, Pool's loan signing Lewis Goburn saw nothing of the ball. When he was given possession on 44 minutes, the Cyril Knowles Stand cheered. It took that long for him to see the ball.

But Pool were booed off at the break and, justifiably, Cooper was unhappy at the reaction.

His side wasn't playing poorly, they weren't being allowed to play by a very good team.

What changed the game, lifted the crowd and infuriated Rovers' boss Dave Penney was when Micky Barron chopped down Blundell on the edge of the box.

Instead of showing red, referee Chris Foy managed to book covering defender Chris Westwood. "I asked him if I am a chameleon because I must have changed colour!'' he joked.

Cooper feared Barron would be sent off, but from then on, thanks as well to the introduction of Porter and Jack Ross, Pool won it.

"I was hoping for the chance to get on - I was disappointed I wasn't in the starting line-up,'' added Porter.

"I accept that's part of football, but I got my chance in the last ten minutes and took it I guess.

"It's not been a good couple of weeks for me personally, things haven't gone my way.

"The first goal came off the back of my head and I was turned away from goal, so I didn't even see it hit the net.

"I watched the lob all the way and actually thought it was going to miss, luckily enough it dropped in.''

And Porter admitted once he dragged Pool level, he could sense the game was within reach.

"Once we scored the first goal, our game picked up a little bit and I thought we might have had a chance to win it,'' he said.

"They were a little bit rattled and we made the most of it.

"To be fair to Doncaster they are a very good team. They are quick and play the ball through midfield and the wide players were like lightening.

"They are one of the best teams we have played at home, definitely.''

Result: Hartlepool United 2 Doncaster Rovers 1.

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