FORTUNE was definitely with Hartlepool United at Shrewsbury Town, and it helped Chris Turner's men to a 3-1 win, their first of the season.

At half-time Pool were trailing 1-0 despite having a large share of possession. But within 11 minutes of the second half the encounter reached fever point when the hosts had two men sent off.

First centre-back Matthew Redmile went for a second bookable offence and then former York City midfielder Mark Atkins followed him into the bath when he was dismissed for the same reason.

For Redmile there was no doubt that he should have left the field after two terrible tackles on Ritchie Humphreys from behind.

But for Atkins, maybe there was a case for the defendant. He was first cautioned for a foul on Ian Clark aftr 14 minutes and then he was given his marching orders after a tackle on Chris Westwood, which was dubiously deemed bookable.

However, the prosecutors in this instance were Pool and they showed no mercy whatsoever when they were given the freedom of Gay Meadow.

A penalty from Ian Clark and strikes from Kevin Henderson and Mark Tinkler completed the success, and Turner was delighted to return to the North-East victorious - even if it was with a little help from the man in black.

"Refereeing decisions are part of the game and I can't see why anyone is complaining about these," said Turner. "It states in the laws of the game that if it's a tackle from behind it's a red card.

"Redmile should have gone for his fist on Ritchie, that was a bad tackle in itself, and then he has gone and done exactly the same again. I think the ref was right.

"But I don't want the sending offs to take anything away from the boys because I thought we played very well. And if any good fortune wants to come our way then we will take that.

"I'm sure Kevin Ratcliffe will be disappointed with the result and may not accept the sending off decisions but that's what this game's like."

Red cards are something that Turner has been stamping out at the club ever since he arrived over two and a half years ago, and he is hoping that his players show the same sort of attitude over the next nine months.

Summer signing Tommy Widdrington is one whose tigerish qualities could get him into trouble on occasions and that was apparent against Shrewsbury in the first half.

Widdrington got involved following Redmile's first booking and after a fracas had broken out the former Southampton midfielder was lucky to escape a card himself.

And, although the manager hopes to preserve some of his battling spirit, Turner hopes to have all of his squad adhering to his cautous and sensible ways.

"We have won the North-East's fair play league for the past two years and that is something we would like to keep up," said Turner.

"Cards lead to suspensions and that costs you players and tht is no good, you have got to be disciplined."

It was a tactic that certainly proved productive in Shropshire. While Shrewsbury found themselves with five bookings and two sendings off, only Westwood entered into referee Joe Ross' notebook, and even then it looked a little surprising.

Apart from the cards there was also plenty of good football played, and it was Pool who produced most of it in the early part.

However, Ratcliffe's side gradually saw more of the ball and it was no surprise when striker Luke Rodgers got lucky with a ricochet before jinking his way past the Pool backline. The 19-year-old then fired through Martin Hollund's legs and into the net.

Turner's side did not look like scoring for all their good approach play, and it was not until Redmile and Atkins left the field that the visitors showed more conviction.

And Clark's penalty on six minutes after Humphreys had been brought down by Rioch gave Pool the encouragement needed to go on an win.

Five minutes later Paul Stephenson and Mark Tinkler combined to set up Kevin Henderson who shot powerfully beyone keeper Mark Cartwright.

Cartwright was picking the ball out of the net again on 75 minutes when impressive Tinkler scored a beauty.

The former Southend United midfielder cut inside subtitute Karl Murray on the left and unleashed an unstoppable 25-yard right foot shot past the stranded goalie.

Now Pool go into Monday night's Worthington Cup clash with Nottingham Forest full of confidence.

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