James is a student of the art of scoring

As part of his development, the 17-year-old doesn’t train with the first-team the day before a game, as his studies in sports excellence take priority.

The way he is going, he won’t need a classroom certificate to prove his own sporting excellence.

As Pools flew to their biggest win of the season, scoring four times at home in one game after it took nine games to bag just two between September and January, James was at the heart of it.

He was directly up against giant Lubo Michalik and what he gave up in size he made up for in heart, effort and ability.

James’ first goal deflected in off the centre-half, his second goal was a mixture of effort, application, poor defending from the Slovakian and a classy finish.

It epitomised the performances of the two players.

James chased down a back pass at keeper Adam Collin and got a block on his clearance. That sent the ball wide where Michalik was lumbering. James Brown robbed him and poked the ball towards James who had raced across to support his team-mate.

As he burst into the area he could have passed to Antony Sweeney, but instead, like all good and selfish strikers do, he went alone and smashed in a glorious finish high into the net.

In five starts, he has now got three goals and, just like his first goal against Rochdale, this was eye-catching.

He was likened by one TV pundit to a young Michael Owen on Saturday, and that might be stretching it a bit, but it’s little surprise that his name is being noted.

“Luke is right up there with the best young talents I’ve had,” said Neale Cooper. “James Brown was just coming through when I left, but from what I’ve seen he is way up there.

“His second goal was fantastic and could have gone down for a penalty later – he’s an honest boy.

“I know there’s a lot watching him, but there’s been no approaches. See how he takes the first goal? OK it’s a wee deflection, but he’s not scared to have a shot. It’s his goal.

“What can he achieve? He’s level headed boy and got man of the match again – that’s more sweets and he will probably get a bottle of milk instead of champagne!

“He goes to college as part of his work, I don’t think he likes it, but he goes Friday afternoon. Preferably he would be resting at that time, but he has high energy levels.”

And those energy levels had Michalik worried.

Cooper used his own experience as a defender to get the most out of James and, in Pools’ fluid and interchanging 4-3-3 formation it worked a treat.

“Luke will take the challenge, we tried to get the wider boys coming in for the knock-ons to Luke, we don’t expect him to win balls against the giant he was up against. But as the game we went on we tried to turn the centre-halves with his pace,” said Cooper.

“I played centre-half and I told Luke that the thing I hated was a boy of his size running in the corners chasing everything.

“What I liked was marking someone so I could go and attack the ball directly, what I didn’t like was someone like Luke there turning me. So I told him that.

“Then as the game went on the big man was dropping 15 yards off him, so then we were trying to get it played into his feet.”

He added: “Nothing phases him. I spoke before to make sure he understood what we were looking for – he understood and always has a smile on his face.

“He is someone the fans can see and enjoy.”

Winning at home last time out meant the weight and pressure was off and Pools were inventive and positive from the off.

After James’ opener, Sweeney got his second goal in as many games with a leaping header from Austin’s cross.

Carlisle were down to ten men before half an hour was up, Lee Miller off for a late tackle on Andy Monkhouse. Cooper admitted the decision was unfair. “The sending-off was a bit harsh, I maybe thought Andy was going to get sent off for it.”

Carlisle are likely to appeal.

The decision galvanised the Cumbrians a bit and they changed formation to a 3-4-2 at the break. They had ten minutes or so of possession without breaking through or creating anything before James showed them the way.

And Colin Nish, back from injury, completed the rout, confidently slipping in from 12 yards. His last goal was in September, when Pools saw off Bury 3-0 – their previous biggest win of the season.

MATCHFACTS

Goals:

1-0: James (6, collected Monkhouse cross from the right and his shot from 16 yards was deflected in)

2-0: Sweeney (17, high jump in the area to head Austin’s cross back across the keeper)

3-0: James (67, tenaciously chased down keeper, took possession wide, darted into area and finished in style)

4-0: Nish (81, swept in a confident low finish from a knock-down)

Sending-off: Miller (26, violent conduct)

Bookings: Brown (15, foul), Liddle (55, foul), Michalik (foul, 90)

Referee: Rob Madley (Ossett): Booked Brown after awarding free-kick on assistant’s say, before sending-off Lee Miller in a decision all parties felt was harsh 4

Attendance: 5,995

Entertainment: 5/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3):

6 Flinders: Shots to save – none. But back on form and kicking has improved, while also looking to roll Pools quickly on the attack;

7 Austin: Boss Cooper likes to get his full-backs pressing forward and spent his share of the game doing that and he

created the second

7 Collins: Firm defending throughout against one or two attackers

7 Hartley: Played through a shoulder injury and didn’t suffer for it, although his passing was a bit wayward on occasions.

6 Horwood: Like Austin he pressed Carlisle back from the start of the game and was missed when he was carried

off the pitch with a knee injury;

8 Sweeney: Two goals in as many games and has some freedom to attack in a fluent and mobile system. His high

energy levels never dipped

7 Murray: Enjoyed playing against his former club as he got the better of the midfield battle in a display of authority

7 Liddle: Pressed, wanted the ball and tackled. Early season form has returned and had a big part in first two

goals;

8 Brown: Looked like a player back to form and fitness, tricky in possession and a fit and firing Brown would be like signing a new player

9 JAMES: Gave away near enough a foot in height and three stone in weight to

Michalik. The lightweight had the heavyweight on the ropes

7 Monkhouse: Started in confident mood, with constant involvement on the right and created the opener. Has a big

role to play in the new system.

Subs:

Haslam (for Horwood): Again proved his value after being called upon at left back and did the job asked 6

Nish (for Brown 71)

Baldwin (for Murray 86)

(not used): Rafferty (gk), Humphreys.

CARLISLE UNITED (4-1-2-1-2): Collin 3; Simek 4, Livesey 4 (Madden 46, 5), Michalik 3, Parker 5; Thirlwell 6 (Chantler 77), Noble 5, Taiwo 4 (Cook 46, 6), McGOVERN 6; Zoko 5, Miller 5. Subs (not used): Murphy, Gillespie (gk).

MAN OF THE MATCH

LUKE James – five starts, three goals and two of them have been spectacular efforts