Pools put in a strong display to cause a major FA Cup upset by knocking Stoke City out of the competition with a deserved 2-0 victory.
Goals from the impressive Michael Nelson and a goal-of-the-season contender from David Foley saw Chris Turne's side see off their Premier League opposition and put Pools into the draw for the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.
There was an excitable atmosphere inside The Vic for this afternoon's FA Cup clash and both teams went into the game will all guns blazing.
And there was a very early chance for the Premier League outfit when a corner kick found defender Ibrahima Sonko at the near post -his glancing header smacked against the near post but Pools were able to clear the danger.
Although Pools spent the majority of time in their own half, with the back line worked hard, Arran Lee-Barrett in goal was relatively untested as the players got back in numbers to cover.
Gary Liddle was there to block well inside the area while Ritchie Jones also helped out with a good defensive header from a corner kick. Both Michael Nelson, who was in good form this afternoon, and Sam Collins were strong in the air as Stoke sent a succession of high balls forward.
Pools were dealt an early blow after just 15 minutes of play when Antony Sweeney was forced off with an injured ankle - the right back had tried to recover from the knock picked up in a strong challenge but was unable to play on and limped off to be replaced by Jamie McCunnie.
Rory Delap showed what he can do with that now infamous throw in when he launched a ball deep into the penalty area but Glenn Whelan headed over with his effort.
There was further bad news for Pools on the half hour mark when Michel Mackay went down in the challenge and looked to pick up an abdominal injury - the striker was led down the tunnel by the Club Doctor and was unable to continue, David Foley replaced him.
Fit-again Matty Robson was again one of the main attacking threats for Pools in the first half - the winger swapped passes with Joel Porter before nipping into the area from the left. His final ball was strong but Steve Simonsen got down well to hold the effort.
Sam Collins went forward to show Delap the qualities of his long throw but although the defender's throw sailed well inside the area, the initial confusion it caused the Stoke defence subsided as the ball found Simonsen.
Despite the forced change in personnel early in the game, Pools were comfortable in the first half and deserved to go into the second half on level terms.
And Pools got the second forty-five off to the perfect start courtesy of Michael Nelson.
Matty Robson won a free kick over on the left wing and took the kick himself. The in-form wide man lifted a teasing ball into the area which picked out the rising Nelson perfectly and the big defender finished well, heading powerfully into the back of Simonsen's net to give Pools the lead.
The goal lifted Turner's side who enjoyed a good spell of pressure - Nelson, clearly buoyed by his goal, added his weight to the attacking line, winning the ball well on the right wing before lashing a good ball across th efface of goal - pulling a good save out of Simonsen.
Ben Clark then tried his luck with a low drive from distance but again the Stoke keeper reacted well to hold his effort, while David Foley's turn and shot also found the keeper.
Pools looked much more confident in the second period and put some good forward play together - Matty Robson continued to threaten down the left while both Clark and Jones pushed forward well.
A Sam Collins driven ball from the right wing found Porter in space in the box but his glancing header went high over the bar as Pools looked to capitalise on a good spell of pressure.
While Pools controlled proceedings for much of the second period, the visitors had to rely on the break for their chances on goal - and, after a good move by Michael Tonge, Collins put in a great challenge on £5.5million substitute Dave Kitson inside the box to deny the striker a chance on goal.
And then the game really swung in Pools' favour in the 76th minute - and deservedly so - sub David Foley picked up possession 25 yards out on goal and fired an unstoppable rocket past Simonsen and into top right corner of the net to make it 2-0 to Turner's men.
The goal sent the Pools' fans and bench into raptures - with Chris Turner running onto the pitch in celebration - as they edged closer to securing the big Third Round scalp.
Despite the two-goal advantage, Pools had to remain strong at the back as Stoke dug in looking for a way back into the game - once again Nelson had to be solid, and was, at the back to intercept a Liam Lawrence free kick into the area.
Stoke upped their sense of urgency and began to press Pools more at the back but the impressive Nelson was on a mission and was there to break down and intercept almost every ball into the box.
But this was Pools' day and there was to be no reply from the visitors - Chris Turner's side held on for a deserved 2-0 win over Premier League outfit Stoke City.
A big afternoon for Pools in which they proved too much for their Premier League visitors - the Fourth Round draw will be eagerly awaited.
Pools: Lee-Barrett, Sweeney (McCunnie 16), Nelson, Collins, Humphreys, Jones (Monkhouse 90), Liddle, Clark, Robson, Porter, Mackay (Foley 32)
Subs Not Used: Budtz,Tait, Rowell, Power
Stoke City: Simonsen, Olofinjana (Kitson 53), Whelan, Soares (Lawrence 53), Pericard, Shawcross, Davies Wilkinson 71), Tonge, Delap, Dickinson, Sonko
Subs Not Used: Sorensen, Higginbotham, Diao, Faye
