HISTORY could be made at Victoria Park this afternoon.

Hartlepool United, provided a pair of results go their way and Mike Newell's side beat Orient, will be promoted from the bottom division for only the third time in their history.

Pool need both Bournemouth and York to fail to win against Southend and Rochdale respectively. And if the dream sequence falls into place, Pool will be up and then ready to set their sights on closing in on the League title.

A 14-point lead over Rushden has been reduced to just one after a miserable run of one win in eight, but Pool are still in pole position going into the final five games.

"We know what we have to do,'' said boss Newell. "Our first hurdle is promotion and we are still top of the table.''

Newell is hoping that last week's game at Kidderminster signalled an end to Pool's poor run of form.

Eifion Williams' injury-time strike ended his personal barren spell and ensured Pool stayed in top spot.

"He needed a little lift and hopefully that is it,'' said Newell. "Rushden have been on a good run but who is to say they won't slip up?

"For two or three months we didn't have a problem, we were playing some really good stuff. But we aren't doing that at the moment and we have to put it right.''

Williams is likely to be back in the starting line-up after helping Pool claw their way back last week and admitted: "Coming back from two down must give us a lift.

"We pushed on a lot more in the second half last week and that's what we have to start doing a bit more. Lately we haven't been doing that.

"At Bristol Rovers it took us too long to get going and it's a long time since we took the lead in a game.

"Of course it's nice to put on a performance for the fans, but the only thing that matters is winning games.''

Defender Chris Westwood now hopes last week's late, late leveller will have a demoralising affect on Rushden.

"Hopefully they will have come off last week knowing we were losing and thinking they had gone top. No doubt about it, they will have been upset when they found out we drew,'' he said.

"I think scoring the goal last week could have given everyone here a big lift.

"It might have given us a bit of belief, not just in front of goal but all over the pitch. A little bit has been knocked out of us lately and this can get everything going again.

"The team spirit and everything like that has been fine all along, but I just think when we go out there we need a little bit more belief in ourselves.

"I don't know why we haven't started games well lately, I cannot put my finger on it. If it is down to nerves it can only be a sub-conscious thing. Before the game I don't feel any different to the way I felt at the start of the season.

"And it's not down to over-confidence, I don't think that is something you can suffer from. We had been playing really well before so we have proved we can do it.''

Pool have three home games in the run-in, Rochdale and Shrewsbury follow today's opponents and Westwood added: "Every game, home or away, is crucial to us now. If we can win at home, then it means we don't have to go away looking for something."

Read more about Hartlepool here.