Whilst 3,785 people shuffled into the stands at Victoria Park this afternoon, millions more were settling on their sofas across the globe to sample a touch of League Two Football . For the first time in over two years, Sky Sports had come to Hartlepool.

Leyton Orient were today’s visitors. Currently sitting in a playoff position, the O’s brought a formidable squad that included former Arsenal striker Jay Simpson, back in English football after a season in Thailand.

The fact that anyone, let alone a staggering 237 made the trip up from East London (buses leaving Brisbane Road at 05:30 this morning) was a real illustration of just how important live football is at all levels in this country. They could have been in the local boozer, but valiantly braved the North East breeze.

Pools boss Ronnie Moore was the first to acknowledge the importance of the occasion and what it meant to a club so often overshadowed by larger cities around them:

“With the fixture being televised live on Sky Sports…that gives both of us [today’s teams] an opportunity to show the watching public what we’re about and also create a positive advert for League Two football.” wrote the Monkey Hangers manager in the match day programme.

Not only was it magnificent publicity and prestige for the club, but a match on Sky Sports brought money. £30,000 worth of money. Money that could bring about a better squad.

Moore had been in the transfer window again this week, securing a further two signings, one of which was Sunderland’s young protege, Michael Mandron.

The French striker had impressed in the International PL Cup for Sunderland U21s this season, scoring important goals against both Borussia Monchengladbach and Manchester City. However, after quiet loan spells in the Football League with Fleetwood and Shrewsbury, the Black Cat had plenty left to prove at this level.

The fact that Moore had thrown the Frenchman straight into the starting lineup ahead of the tried-and-tested Rakish Bingham, showed how much faith the manager had in his new acquisition. The League Two talisman had made an impact last week against Cheltenham, but not enough to get himself promoted to the starting eleven.

Despite the upbeat atmosphere around Victoria Park, the story on the pitch was all too familiar. Some sloppy defending let Leyton’s Lloyd James loop a ball with the outside of his boot into Bradley Pritchard after 12 minutes. The Zimbabwean, formally employed as the club’s performance analyst, used both feet cleverly before directing a left footed shot past an unsighted Trevor Carson in the Hartlepool goal.

Too soon had another dressing-down from a southern side appeared imminent for Ronnie Moore’s team.

The impatient aura however, was shaken seven minutes later as Hartlepool were awarded a penalty. A teasing cross from winger Kudus Oyenuga was adjudged to have struck an Orient hand in a busy box and the referee took his time before pointing to the spot. A decision the lineman had failed to flag for.

With designated penalty taker Billy Paynter absent through injury, the former Tottenham trainee jogged across eagerly to take the kick himself, converting it confidently down the middle to secure his second goal in two games for Pools.

The new-look attack continued to make their presence felt, Mandron’s large frame in particular was proving a test for Alan Dunne, Orient’s opposite number. A Millwall man from the age of eight, the Irishman seemed to relish what was undoubtedly a physical encounter.

The crowd were impressed by their battling youngster. Leading a counter attack on his own, the forward was unlucky to overrun the ball soon before throwing his body on the line to retrieve it. It was the sort of hunger that had been lacking at the Vic and the crowd reacted excitedly to it.

The second half started brightly for Pools and with it came their Frenchman’s first sight of goal. Playing a clever one-two with strike partner Scott Fenwick, Mandron tore towards the final pass, narrowly beaten by defender Dunne but nonetheless forcing the corner. Centre-back Matthew Bates connected emphatically at the back post, but his effort narrowly crept over the crossbar.

Pools were probing.

With 20 minutes to go, they got their breakthrough. Mandron patiently held the ball up on the left wing, drawing two defenders towards him before pulling it back to Jake Gray. The Palace midfielder shot from the edge of the area, his effort taking a heavy deflection past the wrong footed keeper.

It was a special moment for the young man, who claimed his first goal in professional football, and what a time to do so.

Minutes later and it was Mandron’s turn to make a move again. An invigorated Hartlepool regained possession from the restart, a deep cross from the right so nearly finding the 21-year-old unmarked in front of goal.

His polished performance was not perfect, but in the eyes of the fans the Frenchman appeared the “belle of the ball”.

With 85 minutes on the clock, Hartlepool turned on the style. A lovely piece of footwork from Pools’ other newcomer Naismith put fellow loanee Gray through on goal again. The young midfielder struck the ball expertly across goal, the ball polishing the post on it’s way into the back of the net. It was a strike fit for the Premier League Moore remarked after the game.

This afternoon’s display had been utterly foreign from those of previous weeks. Pools had a fizz about them, a passion going forward and a sturdy line protecting the back.

Hartlepool had won at home in the league for the first time since August and credit had to go to the gaffer.

He had raided the loan market impeccably. Last week, defender Matt Jackson had arrived from Middlesbrough and immediately scooped the man of the match award. This week, Gray and Naismith were outstanding in midfield. They brought a youthful exuberance to a side lacking leadership, injecting both creativity and pace into what had been a stuttering side.

As for young striker Mandron, his worth had risen from the offing. Combating the veteran Dunne, he had got the better of his counterpart and been instrumental across the park.

Later named as Man of the Match, there seem to be only good omens in Ronnie Moore’s sighting of this Black Cat.