Rangers handed Hartlepool their second finishing lesson of the season with yet another demolition of the Monkey Hangers. As with the game at Loftus Road the scoreline was probably a bit harsh on them but it served to underline what a destructive force we can be on our day.

It was another enforced reshuffle for Olly following injuries to Culkin and Padula. Lee Camp made his debut in goal for the R's and Matthew Rose lined up at left back alongside Forbes, Carlisle and Gnohere. The midfield of Rowlands, Bircham, Johnson and McLeod remained intact but there was a change in the front pairing. Paul Furlong took the place of Thorpe to link up with Kevin Gallen.

The game started brightly with Rowlands whipping a free kick wide after barely two minutes. Matthew Rose then found himself in the book following a foul on Joel Porter. The ref wasn't going to give anything, nor was the linesman, until 'Pool manager Cooper bullied them into a decision. It was very much a case of Cooper opens mouth, flag goes up, book comes out. This was the first in a succession of poor decision this pair would combine to make during the afternoon.

Hartlepool should have taken the lead twenty minutes in following a corner. The delivery from the right was attacked by Camp but he failed to hold the ball and impressive centre back Michael Nelson cracked a shot just over the angle of post and bar. This served as a wake up call to the R's and they immediately went to the other end and twice came close to opening the scoring. Firstly Gallen shot straight at Provett after being played in by McLeod, then Rowlands jinked his way past four men before firing a cross/shot agonisingly across the six yard box.

The moment of the first half came from Camp though when he produced a quite stunning save. Eifion Williams was played in and found the space between Carlisle and Gnohere. He bore down on Camp and people assumed that this would be the opener for Hartlepool. Camp stood his ground and waited, and waited and then at the final moment flung himself low to his left to smother at Williams' feet. It was an absolutely textbook example of how to kill off a one on one. The away fans rose as one to acclaim the young stopper and I think he has already gone a long way to earning a place in the faithful's hearts.

Rangers had definitely had the better of the half but there were still moans and groans amongst the fans that we weren't in the lead. People seem to forget that 'Pool were at the start of play, a top six side that had only lost two at home all season. Personally I was pleased to go in level and have a platform to build on in the second half.

The second period started at a hell of a pace and Rangers found themselves a goal up after only two minutes. Furs picked up the ball wide on the right and played a neat one two with Gallen and suddenly found himself in acres of space. He calmly drew Provett before bending a shot past the keeper's body and in. It was a brilliant piece of finishing from Furlong who had been at his bullish best all afternoon.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 courtesy of Kevin Gallen. Kevin McLeod, who had been subdued once again, suddenly burst into life and surged down the left. His low cross rolled into the path of Furlong who took an air shot and this seemed to deceive the Hartlepool rearguard. Gallen found himself unmarked and made no mistake with a low right footed shot into the bottom corner.

The game was now all but over as a contest and you couldn't see Hartlepool making much of a dent in a defence that was playing as well as it had done for a few weeks. To their credit Hartlepool came back at us as we knew they would and Bircham and Johnson both found themselves in the book following soft challenges. Bircham's one earned him a two match ban for reaching ten yellows for the season. It was indicative of the decisions of referee Olivier that he chose to book both of our central midfielders for nothing challenges yet when Matthew Rose was cleaned out at the far end we were given a throw on and no more was said about it.

Rangers added the third with a little over twenty minutes left to play. A long ball was launched up field and Furlong took it brilliantly in his stride. Chris Westwood was left for dead as Furs mugged him and then Provett had no chance when he leathered a right footed shot past him. This was turning into a champagne afternoon and it was about time that we turned in such a complete away display. It was to get better only two minutes later when Martin Rowlands scored his ninth goal of the season.

Matthew Rose, who had been outstanding at left back, weaved his way up the wing and pulled the ball back into the path of Gallen. Kev had time for a touch before forcing Provett into a fine save low down to his left. Luck was not on his side though as the ball rolled into the path of Rowlands who crashed it home to make it four.

Furlong could have claimed the match ball after more good work from Rose but he scuffed his shot from eighteen yards and Provett saved with ease. Olly made a double change with ten minutes left as Johnson and Bircham were replaced by Bean and Palmer in a like for like to change to protect the players from the fussy Olivier. Rangers were still getting plenty of the ball though and started to knock it about confidently with youngster Bean at the heart of the action.

Hartlepool grabbed a late consolation, which they deserved in truth, but not before Camp had made a couple more wonder saves. First he threw himself into the path of a shot from Porter before springing up to deny former Sheffield Wednesday starlet Richie Humphreys. His luck ran out though as the ball fell back to Porter and he rammed it high into the net.

There was no more drama though Rangers saw out the final few minutes to grab easily their best away win of the season. A few more of these will be needed now though if we want to overhaul Bristol City and take the second auto promotion slot.

Everybody on the pitch played their part today. Camp was outstanding and unlucky not to be Man of the Match. The entire back four were excellent, in particular Rose who seems to play better at left back than he does on the right. Rowlands was his usual impish self and Johnson and Bircham, both ran themselves into the ground in an attempt to break up the fleeting Hartlepool attacks. McLeod, although still not at his best, did manage to create the second goal. Gallen and Furs were excellent all day and took their goals with aplomb.

This sets us up nicely for the midweek game against Wrexham, who won't be relishing the trip to LR having just shipped six at Peterbowough. This has effectively become our game in hand on Bristol City and we will go into second place with a win. I for one think that a display as confident as the one put on in the North East will see us home with ease.

simon@qprnet.com