Pools recorded a much-needed victory here at The Vic this evening, seeing off Carlisle United with a convincing 4-1 win.

Two goals from Ritchie Jones and one each from Antony Sweeney and Joe Gamble sealed the win for Chris Turner's men on a very windy night here at Victoria Park.

Pools started strongly here this evening, with new man Roy O'Donovan playing an early ball through for Adam Boyd but the striker's curling effort found only the arms of Adam Collin.

And with just six minutes on the clock, Turner's men took the lead when the busy Ritchie Jones picked up a ball from Joe Gamble just on the right edge of the box and, clearly in confident mood, Jones sent a teasing shot right across goal and into the top left corner of Collin's goal.

Taking the lead seemed to set Pools on edge as Carlisle immediately set about drawing level - something they achieved within just four minutes of play.

After Kevan Hurst caused problems inside the box for Greg Abbott's men, Matty Robson whipped a fierce ball in from the right which found the head of Scott Dobie and sailed into the bottom right corner of Scott Flinders' goal.

The goal further boosted the visitors, who pushed on through Hurst and Dobie, while former Pools loan man Darryl Duffy just nicked in ahead of Liddle to flick an effort at goal only for his weak effort to miss target.

With 28 minutes gone though, Pools re-took the lead, all be it slightly against the run of play.

A well-taken Joe Gamble corner from the right found Antony Sweeney arriving unmarked into the area and the busy midfielder made no mistake as he powered a header home to make it 2-1.

Carlisle had chance to hit straight back when the ball arrived at the feet of Adam Clayton in a good position inside the box - fortunately though the midfielder sent his effort high over the bar.

While the first goal seemed to set Pools on edge, the second gave them a much-needed boost as they piled the pressure on Collin's goal.

A great ball from Colin Larkin on the left picked out the influential Jones who tried to send a headed effort past the Carlisle stopper but Collin got just enough on the ball to put it wide of target.

The resulting corner was whipped in again by Gamble from the right and again Sweeney popped up unmarked to head at goal - this time though, his effort from the far post was cleared.

Gamble was involved again minutes later when he lifted a ball into the box for the busy Jones who was running in on goal but his cushioned volley struck the crossbar and was again put out for a corner kick.

This time the corner from Gamble came from the left and was hit low to Sam Collins who turned to send the ball across the face of goal where Adam Boyd tried to head home only to see his effort edge over the bar.

With his next corner though, Gamble needed no assistance - apart from that of the swirling wind that gushed around The Vic for the entirety of the game.

The tenacious midfielder whipped a curling effort in from the left corner and it sailed into the box, and over the line - although Collins pushed the ball back into the net, Gamble's corner looked to have already crossed the line.

Roy O'Donovan showed a great turn of pace on numerous occasions in this first half, looking a promising addition to Turner's squad.

The Irish striker set off on a great run from the half way line towards goal, laying it off to Larkin who pushed into the box and fired at goal only to be denied by Collin.

And so Pools went into the second half with a 3-1 lead - something to warm the fans on a very cold night here at The Vic.

While the first half was played out at a high tempo from the off, the second period was not quite s fast and furious as Pools worked hard to hold onto their two-goal advantage.

For the early spell of the second half, Carlisle pushed on looking to grab a lifeline back into the game but Pools were in no mood to slip up and coped well with both the opponents and the elements.

And so Abbott's men relied mainly on chances from distance to try and test Flinders - but as Ian Harte found, the keeper was in good form.

The experienced defender sent a fierce freekick in from the right but the quality of the delivery was met by an even better save as Flinders reacted brilliantly to parry the effort and Neil Austin arrived first to clear the danger.

There was a chance for Colin Larkin who cut in to shoot from the left but Collin saved as Pools played much of the early period of the second half defending.

But with 75 minutes on the clock, Turner's men put the game beyond Carlisle; a perfectly-weighted ball by the lively Roy O'Donovan picked our Jones who timed his run immaculately and ran through one-on-one with the keeper, showing a calm head as he slotted home under Collin to make it 4-1.

Sub James Brown, keen to stamp his mark on the game tried with a couple of shots on goal - his first slightly scuffed was caught by the keeper at full stretch while his second showed more of the trickery expected from the forward as he twisted and turned into space. His final shot though went just wide of goal.

It finished 4-1 to Pools, just the victory and goals that were needed here at The Vic this evening as Chris Turner's side look to distance themselves from the drop zone.

Att: 2975 (354 Carlisle United)

Pools: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Liddle, Hartley, Jones, Sweeney, Gamble, Larkin (Humphreys 71), Boyd (Brown 60), O'Donovan (McSweeney 82)
Subs Not Used: Cook, Behan, Bjornsson, Fredriksen

Carlisle United: Collin, Murphy (Horwood 56), Livesey, Harte, Keogh, Robson, Thirlwell (Taiwo 56), Clayton, Hurst (Marshall 65), Duffy, Dobie
Subs Not Used: