HARTLEPOOL United extended their advantage at the summit of League Two to five points, with their seventh victory in a row.

Pools saw off Hereford 3-2 at Victoria Park, thanks to Eifion Williams' 25 yard drive giving Danny Wilson's side an advantage they kept, after twice squandering the lead.

And, with Walsall drawing at Darlington, Swindon going down at Stockport and Lincoln losing at Mansfield, Pools are now nine points ahead of the teams looking at the promotion spots from outside.

They took the lead when Ben Clark headed in his second goal of the season, turning in Ritchie Humphreys' corner from an angle.

But they were pegged back just nine seconds after the restart, Danny Thomas getting ahead of Darren Williams and scoring.

James Brown regained the lead, forcing the ball over the line after an almighty goalmouth scramble from another Humphreys dead ball.

The advantage only lasted minutes as Steve Guinan turned the ball in from close range.

But when the tireless Richie Barker headed on, strike partner Williams cracked in via the upright to make it 53 points from a possible 57 and extend the unbeaten run to 19 games.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Konstantopoulos; Barron, Nelson, Clark, Humphreys; Brown, Liddle, Sweeney, Monkhouse; Barker, E Williams. Subs: Bullock, Provett, D Williams, Gibb, Foley HEREFORD UNITED: Brown, Travis, Jennings, Rose, Mkandwire, Purdie, A Williams, Smith, Purdie, Connell, Guinan. Subs: Thompson, Sills, Jeannin, Gulliver, Ferrell.

Referee: Mark Haywood