FEW players have had an impact on Feethams derbies in recent history like Joe Allon.

Few players have twice netted the winning goal in front of the Tin Shed while wearing a Darlington shirt, never mind a Hartlepool United one. And as Pool visit Feethams for the last time this afternoon, Allon is returning to the scene of his crimes.

The striker, who fired Pool to promotion last time around in 1991, has been a regular at Pool games this season, offering his opinion on the impressive proceedings on behalf of BBC Radio Cleveland or Century FM.

But while he's not wanted by the radio today - "I think the BBC are being a bit diplomatic in keeping me away!" - Allon will be there as part of the Tyne-Tees TV set-up.

"I wasn't going to be there, but then I got a late call-up from Tyne-Tees,'' he joked. "I always seemed to do well at Feethams as a player - I don't think I ever lost,'' he admitted. "It's a day and an occasion I am really looking forward to.''

Allon netted 81 League and Cup goals for Pool and 136 in a 14-year, nine-club career, but few as special to the one-time Newcastle striker as his two winning goals at Feethams. Both came from left-wing corners.

In 1990 he netted past Mark Prudhoe in the season both teams ended up in the top four, and his second goal - netted while flat out in the penalty box - helped secure Pool's League future as they flirted tantalisingly with relegation in 1997.

"Both mean so much to me,'' he confessed. "The first one came from a Kevan Smith back-pass. He tried to play it back to Mark Prudhoe, but I was a little bit quicker then than I am now and I lifted it over him, ran round him and tapped it in.

"I wheeled away towards our fans not thinking that it would be the winner because it was so early in the game.'' And Allon, whose career was cut short by a knee injury during his second spell at Victoria Park in 1998, revealed his second winning strike came after the club tried to farm him out on loan.

Allon departed Victoria Park for Chelsea in 1991 after winning promotion, but returned five years later. He said: "I was sub that day - I think I came on after 93 minutes and scored after 95! Mick Tait was boss and I was saying to him 'get me on' all game. Sometimes you get the feeling that it is going to be your day and that was one of them.

"The ball came to me - Mark Proctor knocked the corner over - and I caught it well first time.

"I thought the chance had gone, but it came back to me and while I was on the floor I lifted my foot up and pushed it back in.

"I think it was even more special because I could have left the club just before the game. Fulham and Scunthorpe had come in for me and the club wanted me to go.

"I think they were looking for a scapegoat because of the season they had, but there was no way I was going to leave with the club in the situation they were in.

"If I had gone and Pools had gone down I couldn't have forgiven myself. Then a week after beating Darlington I scored twice against Barnet and we were safe.''

Last time Pool - and Quakers - were promoted, it went down to the final day of the season. This time around Allon knows the fat lady will be singing long before May 3.

"Some of the football we've played this season has been above Third Division standard,'' he said.

"Pools are miles ahead in the table, but Darlington will look to redress the balance."