Hartlepool put in a five-star performance to see off Shrimps

Hartlepool produced a fine performance to crush Morecambe 5-2 at the Globe Arena.Craig Hignett's side enjoyed the best possible start with two goals in the first six minutes.The first came after four minutes when Michael Woods was in the perfect place to stroke home the loose ball after goalkeeper Barry Roche had done well to save a looping shot from Nathan Thomas that had taken a wicked deflection.Thomas then turned goalscorer three minutes later with a superb individual goal. The left winger beat Shaun Beeley for pace and saw his goal-bound shot diverted into the roof of the net by home defender Ryan Edwards.Thomas could have had a third for his side after 12 minutes when he waltzed past Beeley again but pulled his shot inches wide of the left-hand post.That miss gave Morecambe heart as they raised their game and started to create chances of their own. Alex Kenyon brought them back into the game with a fine left-foot finish from 18 yards after being well found by Kevin Ellison.Morecambe ended the half on top with Shaun Miller and Ellison both testing Pools goalkeeper Trevor Carson until Thomas produced another moment of inspiration to score a third for the visitors in the 51st minute.The winger received the ball on the left-hand side and cut inside three weak challenges before curling an effort past Roche from the edge of the area.Hartlepool added a fourth from a Luke James penalty in the 76th minute. He beat midfielder Kenyon from the spot after the midfielder was forced to go in goal when Roche was sent off for bringing down Brad Walker when he had a free run on goal.Morecambe replied, with Tom Barkhuizen making the most of a poor defensive slip to beat Carson from 12 yards before Hartlepool put the shine on their afternoon with Rhys Oates flicking home James's right-wing cross from six yards.