No Bore draw when Pools knock in four BOREHAM WOOD 0 HARTLEPOOL 4
POOLS romped to their biggest win of the season as Nicke Kabamaba put his name in the club record books.
Signed on loan from Havant and Waterlooville last month, the striker scored twice in victory. He has scored in each of his first four games for the club – something only one other player has managed.
Joe Livingstone managed the feat back in 1966 – while four other players who had bagged goals in their first three games have now been eclipsed.
Kabamaba has stepped up from part-time football with the Hawks with ease and is fast becoming a crowd favourite. He is on loan until the end of the season and the clamour is for him to be signed permanently.
Victory was Craig Hignett’s second in third games – they drew the other one – since he took over from Richard Money.
The play-offs are still some distance away for the club, but spirits and outlook have been turned around under his stewardship.
Hignett said: “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.’’
Pools had to cope with the blow of losing influential centre-half Michael Raynes, with the loanee ruled out for two months with an Achilles problem, and Carl Magnay, forced out for the same length of time with a knee problem.
But Hignett handed a first start to young prospect Aaron Cunningham and he was faultless in victory.
Spending the first half of the season on loan at Blyth Spartans appears to have toughened up the 21-year-old.
Pools were ahead on just six minutes as Kabamaba struck. The big man headed in at the far post, peeling away from his man into space to meet a tasty cross from Danny Amos.
There was a scare for Pools when Sorba Thomas somehow tapped wide from close range.
Jamal Fyfield then headed against the bar, much to Pools’ relief, but Kabamaba could have doubled the lead, heading wide from close range when he connected with a cross from Liam Noble.
Hawkes, at the start of the second half, took charge. On 50 minutes, he drilled a low shot into the bottom corner to double the advantage.
Hignett is a big fan of the midfielder, who was not given much of a chance to shine this season under Pools two other managers. The manager has spoke openly about his admiration for Hakwes and predicts a big future in the game.
Luke James, as in the previous week, earned Pools a penalty. He ran into the area, ran at Manny Parry and was felled.
After Liam Noble missed from the spot against Leyton Orient last week, the top scorer was taken away from spot-kick duties.
Hawkes has already netted a penalty this season, when Noble was injured, and he was entrusted with the responsibility and he made no mistake.
Kabamaba rounded it off at the end, his shot deflected in, but there’s no denying him a fifth goal for the club.
The manager added: “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.
“We took control and it was comfortable in the end.’’
BOREHAM WOOD: Huddart, Ilesanmi, Ricketts, Parry, Champion, Gabriel (Shakes 68), Murtagh, Fyfield, Thomas, Kanu, Shields (Ash 59). Not Used: Legg, Woodards, Ugwu. BOOKED: Champion, Parry, Fyfield, Kanu. POOLS: Loach, Donaldson, Kioso, Cunningham, Anderson, Amos, Featherstone, Noble (Kitching 86), Hawkes (Hawkins 72), James (Muir 89), Kabamba. NOT USED: Richardson, Miller. BOOKED: Kioso