Wycombe Wanderers 0, Hartlepool United 1.

FOUR years ago Hartlepool United and Ritchie Humphreys celebrated promotion with all the enthusiasm of a team who had just been consigned to relegation.

Losing 4-0 to Scunthorpe at Glanford Park in April 2003 was hardly a cause for joy; it was more like a wake.

Players and manager didn't even know they'd gone up until emerging from a dressing room dressing down more than ten minutes after the final whistle.

The fans were calling for the manager's head and weeks later their wish was granted when Mike Newell left.

Perhaps little wonder that, with three games of the season to go, they didn't go on to win the title and finished the season in second spot.

Compare those glum scenes with those at Wycombe on Saturday.

Pools won 1-0 thanks to a diving header from Richie Barker in front of 850 sun-drenched fans to not only ensure a top-two finish, it also keeps them in pole position for the title.

Players celebrated at the final whistle, headed for the inner sanctum of the dressing room before emerging for a round of rapturous and deserved applause.

After the brickbats of Glanford Park, it was bouquets at Adams Park.

"Promotion was our aim at the start of the season and I'm so pleased it's happened like it has with a win and a good performance - the worst thing that could have happened was that it matched what went on last time,'' said Humphreys, who celebrated with zest at the final whistle.

"Even if we had drawn this game and Walsall won, it would have been a bit strange, instead we've won and we are top of the table.

"We went into this game almost promoted and knew what we had to do, but we didn't want to only draw, this team doesn't do that. It's been a perfect day, first class.

"And we are so pleased to do it for the supporters as well, we know how difficult it is to travel all over the country like they do, getting trains, time off work and spending money supporting us and this was for them as much as it is us.

"Our away support has been unbelievable - almost 4,000 went to Darlington, 1,300 to Stockport and 1,000 at Barnet last week. And I think after what we had last season, it shows that with injuries and stuff we should have stayed up.

"But now we've got another promotion for the club and another for myself and the lads, I feel much better than I did last time, I can tell you that.

"Last time around it was a massive anti-climax. I had never been promoted before, it was my first time and it wasn't enjoyable on the day.

"I really thought promotion was something it wasn't that day - more like something which went on today instead.''

Just 12 months ago Pools were relegated, the only blot on their copybook after six previous seasons of success and sustained progress.

This season, if anything, shows how much of an abhorration last season was, and spending a solitary year in the bottom division proves Pools are a League One side playing in the wrong division.

Club records galore have been broken this season, Saturday saw them keep another clean sheet - their 22nd of the programme - and score for the 25th successive game.

It was their tenth 1-0 win of their victory charge, which has seen them move from 16th in the table on November 4 to top spot.

Reaching 87 points eclipses the previous best tally of 85 achieved in the 2003 season and win number 26 equals the record set in 1955/6, still with three games to go.

The rearguard on Saturday was typically solid, snuffing out what threat, if any, the three-man Wycombe front line posed.

Jermaine Easter never quite made it during his time at Pools, but has since developed into a striker who has been recently picked by Wales.

A few minutes in, he found space out wide, but when his first touch saw him stand on the ball before Darren Williams slid into him, it was more akin to the raw and untested teenager Chris Turner signed from Wolves in 2001.

Other than coming for routine crosses, Dimi Konstantopoulos was called into action when he smothered Stefan Oakes as the midfielder closed in on goal.

Easter squandered a chance when he tried to finish with the outside of his right boot and put the ball into the advertising hoardings behind the goal.

At the other end, Pools came more into the game as it went on.

Barker hit a post in the first half after turning smartly inside the area, in a mirror image of the goal he scored at Stockport last month to level the scores at 3-3.

Andy Monkhouse was exploiting the gaps on the left side with regular serenity.

He helped put Eifion Williams in on goal, but the striker dragged his shot wide. Gary Liddle got through on errant keeper Ricardo Bastita, but the keeper stuck out a leg to block.

Joel Porter, in his third comeback game, was bright and inventive, but should have been celebrating his first goal since October.

Barker played his strike partner in, and with just Batista to beat put his shot too close to the keeper.

It would have been some story for Porter, injured for five months of this historic campaign, but always a crowd favourite, to score such a vital goal.

Instead, it was written for the striker who the fans have taken to in spades since his arrival.

Spending £80,000 on Barker in the January transfer window could be the best £80,000 the club has ever spent.

Nine goals in 16 games is a record any striker would be proud of - and he claims scoring isn't what his game is all about.

When you consider the importance of his goals as well - a last-gasp penalty to draw with Lincoln, and two to complete a memorable comeback at Stockport to name but three - his value cannot be under-estimated.

Porter and Monkhouse linked up on the left, the winger put the ball across the six-yard box and on the head of Barker who flung himself happily at the ball to put the club into League One.

Humphreys used to clean Barker's boots when the pair were apprentice and professional at Sheffield Wednesday.

Fourteen years on, they are cleaning up in League Two.

"You know what you are going to get from Richie, he's going to give everything he's got,'' said Humphreys.

"He's been tremendous since he came here and he never gives up, never.

"And he's got his reward today hasn't he.

"Both he and Monks (Andy Monkhouse) have came here and brought something else to the dressing room and the team.

"It helps when they can play a bit as well, and those two can.''

He added: "We've only lost one game in a long, long time but even after that we've come back with successive wins, which shows what we are all about.

"Maybe we should have drawn the game at Barnet, without playing that well, but we've come back with two more wins in a row.

"This one was so important and so enjoyable.

"Wycombe wanted to win to keep their play-off hopes alive, but we had our reasons as well.

"It's in our hands isn't it?

"We play Friday and we will give it a good go that night to move further ahead.''

Come May 5 there's every chance Pools will have that elusive piece of silverware in their grasp.