Dynamite Dan Kemp scored an amazing hat-trick to fire Hartlepool United to a 4-1 victory at Grimsby Town.
Kemp scored the only goal of the first half at Blundell Park with a cool left-foot finish.
Michee Efete pulled the Mariners level after the break, but superb Wes McDonald came on and was the provider for Kemp’s second and third goals before Josh Umerah put the icing on the cake with his 15th goal of the season in the 76th minute.
John Askey made his first change in four matches, with in-form Mo Sylla not in the travelling party.
It meant a return to the starting XI for captain Nicky Featherstone, his first start since the 3-3 draw with Walsall.
Grimsby boss Paul Hurst made five changes, but there were starts for three former Poolies, Ryan Amos, Kieran Green and fans favourite Gavan Holohan. Bryn Morris was named on the bench.
Grimsby had the first chance of the contest when Jakub Stolarczyk made a brilliant save from Otis Khane in the 13th minute.
That aside, Pools, roared on by 1,200 fans behind Stolarczyk’s goal, had settled well.
So well in fact that they took a 19th-minute lead with a beautiful crafted and finished goal.
Connor Jennings held the ball up nicely in the left channel to free David Ferguson whose cut-back reached Kemp in acres of space. He seemed to have an age to control and pick his spot, which he duly did, driving his left-foot shot into Max Crocombe’s left corner.
Grimsby had a rare threat late in the half but Euan Murray made a tremendous block.
Pools were forced into a change for the second half with Jamie Sterry coming off with a groin problem, replaced by Taylor Foran.
The visitors survived a huge pin-ball moment in their own area on 51 minutes with Stolarczyk making a strong save.
But having come through a big scare with some bodies-on-the-line defending, Pools conceded a soft goal three minutes later through the middle after Efete broke clear before finishing well into Stolarczyk's right corner.
Efete drove over with a chance on 65 minutes with, moments later, Edon Pruti making way for McDonald.
And what an impact the sub was about to make.
With just his first touch of the ball, he was brought down by Efete. The foul looked just outside the box, but no Poolies were complaining after Kemp drove his spot-kick into the keeper's right corner.
It was about to get better as Kemp completed a sensational hat-trick on 72 minutes.
McDonald again the creator with some superb work on the left before sliding the ball across to Kemp, who scored with his right foot this time.
Pools were not finished.
Seconds after coming under pressure, Pools cleared upfield with Umerah charging forward. While Crocombe seemed to have blocked the striker, the leading scorer held his nerve to make space and slot home to send 1,200 fans into ecstasy
Grimsby: Crocombe; Smith (Taylor 46), Waterfall, Maher; Efete, Hunt, Green (Morris 77), Amos; Holohan (McAtee 46), Lloyd, Khan. Subs (not used): Glennon, Emmanuel, Clifton, Orsi
Goal: Efete 54
Pools: Stolarczyk; Dodds, Murray, Pruti (McDonald 65); Sterry (Foran 46), Featherstone, Cooke, Kemp (Crawford 88), Ferguson; Jennings, Umerah (Finney 88).
Subs (not used): Killip, Kiernan, Grey
Goals: Kemp 19, 68 pen, 72, Umerah 76
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Att: 7,425 (away 1,200)