| Hartlepool 4, Swansea 0 Feb 22 2003 By The Evening Gazette
Hartlepool boss Mike Newell kept the faith with the side that drew 0-0 at York City for the visit from Swansea who brought in Kevin Nugent for Steve Watkin up front after taking 13 points from their last six games.
Both goalkeepers got an early touch of the ball as the sides pressed forward.
Humphreys then drove a long ball down the left wing and the same players' resulting throw in was headed back to keeper Freestone.
Pool produced a neat, crisp passing move but Humphreys took the ball wide left and Freestone easily collected his effort.
Play shifted to the home end and Nugent forced a save from Williams with a long range volley. Lee made an excellent block on the edge of his own box as Swansea broke forward.
HUMPHREYS then dipped into his box of tricks to produce a magical solo goal on 10 minutes to open the scoring.
The former Sheffield Wednesday star made a fool of Mumford just over the halfway line before launching a solo run to score with a low 20 yard drive which went in off the post.
Pool continued to push forward in an attempt to extend their lead and a Robinson cross caused panic in the Swansea ranks. Tinkler then sent Clarke clear only to see his left foot shot go wide from just outside the area.
Swansea eased the pressure on them on 20 minutes and won a free kick when Richards was checked 30 yards from the Pool goal. Martinez fired high and wide from the free- kick.
Pool should have increased their cushion but Williams and Boyd both missed golden opportunities.
Westwood picked up a yellow card before Swansea suffered a bigger blow when striker Richards was sent off for lashing out at Pool captain Barron in the 37th minute.
Pool made their extra man count just three minutes later when HUMPHREYS scored his second of the game when he polished off a square ball for Boyd following a precise pass from Williams.
The home crowd began to cheer every pass and were almost treated to a third goal when Clarke chip narrowly cleared the bar.
Boyd took a leaf out of Clarke's books and saw his lob plucked from underneath the bar by Freestone.
Half-time: Hartlepool 2, Swansea 0.
Pool started the second period with a swagger.
Williams beat Evans on the left but his cross had too much pace for the on-rushing Clarke.
Swansea then went up to the other end, where the dimunitive midfielder Britton saw his cross gathered by Anthony Williams after a mazy run.
Swansea boss Ryan Flynn then made two substitutions in a bid to get back into the game. James Thomas replaced John Williams and Gareth Phillips came on for Andrew Mumford. The duo combined soon after and Thomas forced a diving save from keeper Williams.
Swansea then saw their Spanish midfielder Martinez booked for a trip on Williams.
Boyd stole through the fourth hobbling from the keeper the block at his feet and Widderington wafted a pot shot wide.
HUMPHREYS then grabbed his hat-trick on 69 minutes to sink the sorry Swans without a trace.
The ex-Premiership star headed in off the underside of the crossbar after meeting a deep Barron cross.
Defender Kris O'Leary replaced the injured Freestone in the Swansea goal soon after and his first job was to kick the ball out of the back of the net.
TOMMY WIDDRINGTON tapped in Pool's breakaway fourth goal on 72 minutes, converting a Clarke pass.
O'Leary almost put his side five down when he was robbed by Williams but Boyd somehow managed to miss an open goal.
With Pool coasting, Mike Newall brougt on Marcus Richardson for Pision Williams and Kevin Henderson for Adam Boyd.
Widdrington also went off as Paul Arnison got a brief run out.
Swansea were forced to clear off their line shortly before the final whistle from a Clarke looping header.
Referee Barry added three minutes of stoppage time and Pool keeper Williams was forced to make a point blank save from striker Thomas. But nothing could stop Pool from recording their biggest win of the season. | 
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