IT WAS 25 years ago today, Hartlepool United took on Tottenham Hotspur in the Rumblelows Cup. Simon Turnbull reported for The Northern Echo.

PAUL GASCOIGNE demolished Hartlepool's dignified resistance with a World Cup class display of his mercurial talents in the Rumbelows Cup, writes SIMON TURNBULL.

Defying the 86-team gap between them and Tottenham, Hartlepool matched their coveted First Division opponents for all but the last 20 minutes of the second round first leg tie, when Gascoigne scored three times to raise his total on the night to four and for the season to nine - three more than he managed in the whole of last season.

Gary Lineker, Tottenham's other World Cup hero, also beat Brian Cox, but the Hartlepool goalkeeper produced an outstanding 69th minute penalty save to deny the new England captain.

Cyril Knowles was afforded a warm pre-match reception at the ground he graced as an accomplished left-back for 11 years, stepping on to the pitch to acknowledge the cheers of the Tottenham supporters with strains of "Nice one Cyril" playing on the public address system.

Less than two minutes were on the clock, however, when Gary Lineker opened the scoring. Paul Stewart had already headed narrowly wide before the former Manchester City striker broke down the right flank and crossed low into the goalmouth, where Lineker slid the ball past Cox.

Pool, however, raised their game so well they enjoyed the greater share of the play for the next 20 minutes.

Gascoigne was forced to improvise his role as midfield maestro and chase his marker, Steve Tupling, while Joe Allon and Paul Dalton stretched the Tottenham defence.

Pool, however, could not breach the last line of defence and their only direct effort in the first half was a tame hooked shot by Allon in the 11th minute, which Erik Thorstvedt collected with ease.

Gascoigne burst to life with a typicially genial flash in the 26th minute, beating four defenders on the left edge of the box before rifling a low ten yard shot into the far corner.

Hartlepool retained their composure, however, and Cox's goal was not seriously threatened for the rest of the half, although a Lineker header was disallowed for offside three minutes before the break.

Pool continued to press forward with confidence in the second half and skipper Paul Baker was unlucky to see his fiercely-struck 20 yard volley deflected over the bar.

Baker was guilty of a glaring miss after Cox's penalty save, delaying his shot too long after being put clear.

But Pool found themselves three behind in the 75th minute when Gascoigne ran on to Lineker's neat back-heeled pass and rounded Cox to tap in his second.

He completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 81st minute after substitute Don Hutchison was harshly adjudged to have brought him down and scored his fourth with a simple tap-in five minutes later, courtesy of a Lineker break and pass on the right flank.

Hartlepool were paid a glowing tribute by Spurs manager Terry Venables.

"They held us well and played some good football until close to the end," he said. "I thought they had one or two outstanding players."

Hartlepool manager Cyril Knowles described Gascoigne's performance as "entertainment of the highest class.

"I'm pleased to get away with just a 5-0 deficit, considering they scored in the second minute. But I thought we were still in there with a chance when we missed the chance to make it 2-1.

"Steve Tupling did a great marking job on Gascoigne in the first half, but he lost his discipline in the last twenty minutes, like the rest of the team."

Match facts

Goals: Lineker (2 mins, 1-0); Gascoigne (26, 2-0); Gascoigne (75, 3-0); Gascoigne pen (81, 4-0); Gascoigne (86, 5-0).

Bookings: Bennyworth (foul); Tupling (foul).

Attendance: 19,760.

Tottenham: Thorstvedt 6, Edinburgh 6 (Thomas, 72 mins,6), Van Den Hauwe 6, Sedgley 6, Howells 6, Mabbutt 7, Stewart 7 (Walsh, 72 mins, 6 ), GASCOIGNE 9, Nayim 8, Lineker 8, Allen 6.

Hartlepool: Cox 7, Olsson 7 (Honour, 89 mins), McKinnon 7, Tinkler 6, Smith 7, (Hutchison, 69 mins, 6), Bennyworth 7, ALLON 8, Tupling 8, Baker 6, Nobbs 7, Dalton 7.

Referee: K Cooper (Mid Glamorgan).