Hartlepool had to show all their battling qualities as they overcame struggling Carlisle with a second half fight back.

The points weren't safe until the final whistle as the Cumbrians had come up with an effective answer to Pool's enterprising style - all-out attack of their own.

With former Newcastle junior Jamie Burt marking his debut on loan from Chesterfield with a goal, a shot against the post and a fine all-round performance attack, Carlisle had every right to feel aggrieved at the result.

But the statistics show that after recovering from an off-colour first half, Pool finished the game with an incredible 27 shots and headers on goal to Carlisle's six.

It was an entertaining way to start the New Year for the fans.

And, with Pool racking up two back-to-back wins in five days, home supporters will be hoping their favourites have got over the wobbles that saw them toppled from the leadership for two days over Christmas.

"I told he players at half-time to be patient," said Pool boss Mike Newell. "And it worked out for us. We have to remember that games last 90 minutes and we need to be patient. So do the fans.

"Overall, though, this was a good performance and on chances we fully deserved to win."

Carlisle boss Roddy Collins agreed with that summing up and admitted: "The better team won in the end.

"But there were some positives for us in the game, not least the way Jamie Burt played on his debut. He and a few others put in good performances that should give us some confidence for the rest of the season."

Burt gave Carlisle a ninth-minute lead when he picked the ball up near half-way after a home attack broke down and raced away confidently with a great angled shot from the right of the area.

Pool were shocked, and they might have been totally stunned on 32 minutes when Burt, from a similar position, saw his shot smack against the home post before going behind.

But there were signs before the break of Pool's imminent revival, and Carlisle keeper Matty Glennon had to make a few good saves.

In the second half he was forced to make even more after the outstanding Graeme Lee equalised for Pool on 49 minutes, lashing the ball into the roof of the net after his header from a corner by Tommy Widdrington was blocked.

The winner arrived on 79 minutes when Mark Robinson's left wing cross was headed down by the hard-working Darrell Clarke for Eifion Williams to volley his 13th goal of the season from near the penalty spot.

There was still time for Burt to worry Pool once or twice more before the final whistle, but the leaders were in no mood to give it up after working so hard to get back into the game against a Carlisle side who looked far better than their lowly position suggested.