CRAIG HIGNETT was quick to praise Aaron Cunningham after the Hartlepool United debutant impressed.

Pools won 4-0 at Boreham Wood, their biggest away victory since 2007.

Two goals each from Nicke Kabamba and Josh Hawkes earned the win, but the mature display from Cunningham in the middle of the back three impressed the manager.

“Aaron was unbelievable. When you lose players like that you will miss them. I see Aaron train every day and see the type of kid he is. I felt he would come in and do alright, but he was astonishing,’’ he told BBC Tees.

“He had a little part last week and did well and this week he was a colossus.’’

Cunningham spent the first half of the season on loan at Blyth Spartans, where he made his mark.

He stepped up to the side after Michael Raynes was ruled out with an Achilles problem for two months, with Carl Magnay out for a similar period with a knee injury.

The loss of the two experienced heads didn’t matter on this occasion as Pools romped home. Kabamba opened the scoring, becoming the first Pools player since Joe Livingstone in 1955 to score in each of his first four games for the club.

Hignett added: “Nicke is fabulous. What an attitude he has got. He has knuckled down and threw himself into life here. He gave a massive performance on and off the ball.

“Luke James had a great affect on the game. The strikers are on form and firing and the lads who have the shirts have done phenomenally well.

“It’s pretty much the perfect away performance – four goals, a clean sheet and playing the way we did. We attacked really well, kept the ball well when we settled down.’’

Kabamba headed in a Danny Amos cross for the first, before Hawkes netted twice.

His first was a low drive from 20 yards after he was picked out by captain Ryan Donaldson and his second a penalty following a foul on James in the area.

Kabamba finished it off with a deflected shot towards the end.

Hignett added: “I’m pleased with the reaction and we have got better each game. I wasn’t happy first-half, but we had enough about us and last week against Orient and this is all I can ask for.

“Come as far as this, give the fans something to shout about and to come here and score four they all go back happy.’’

BOREHAM WOOD: Huddart, Ilesanmi, Ricketts, Parry, Champion, Gabriel (Shakes 68), Murtagh, Fyfield, Thomas, Kanu, Shields (Ash 59). Subs (not used): Legg, Woodards, Ugwu.

POOLS: Loach; Kioso, Cunningham, Anderson; Donaldson, Featherstone, Noble (Kitching 86), Hawkes (Hawkins 72) Amos; James (Muir 89), Kabamba. Subs (not used): Richardson, Miller.