Pools swept aside League Two outfit Lincoln City in this Johnstone's Paint Trophy Second Round clash.

Three goals and two assists from the impressive Joel Porter sealed a 5-2 victory which saw Danny Wilson's men ease past The Imps and move comfortably into the hat for the Third Round draw.

The game this evening was played out in appalling conditions as heavy rain poured onto the Sincil Bank pitch in the hour leading up to kick off and right throughout the ninety minutes of action.

Arran Lee-Barrett was handed just his second start between the sticks for Pools and the big keeper was called into action within the first four minutes.

When Owain Warlow went on a run into the box from the left wing, Gary Liddle, who was playing in a right back role, stepped in to challenge and, despite the contact looking only light, referee Mike Thorpe pointed straight to the spot, leaving Lee-Barrett to face an early penalty kick.

Mark Stallard stepped up and struck it low into the bottom right corner of the net, giving Pools more work to do in some terrible conditions.

Pools pushed on looking for an early reply, with Matty Robson testing with a couple of searching balls into the area and sub Joel Porter looking lively. Ian Moore whipped in a good ball from the right which was destined for the in-rushing Antony Sweeney only to be snatched mid-air by Alan Marriott in the Lincoln goal.

Sweeney headed a good effort at goal from a Liddle chipped ball into the box but he saw the ball dip just the wrong side of the bar.

At the other end, Scott Kerr fired wide from close distance in a game in which the pouring rain was playing a big in what was quite an open game in the first period.

With almost half an hour on the clock, Pools drew level after a determined run forward from James Brown saw the lively youngster hit a good ball across the face of goal which arrived perfectly for Porter to slot home.

Wilson's men pressed for the lead as the half-time whistle approached and, when Joel Porter lifted a good ball into the box, Matty Robson's nodded effort forced Marriott into the save. James Brown tried his luck from distance with a fierce strike but the ball edged just wide of the far post.

James Brown had a great chance to make it 2-1 just after the re-start when he picked up the ball just six yards out on goal but his poked effort went just wide of the near post.

Just minutes later though and a chipped ball over the top from Sweeney found Porter one-on-one with the defender but the Aussie striker battled his way into position before threading the ball slowly along the water-soaked ground and past Marriott and into the back of the net, giving Pools a 2-1 lead.

Robbie Elliott, skipper for the evening, tried to add to Pools' tally when he drifted in a free kick from 20 yards out but his effort dipped just too late.

Lee-Barrett had a quiet second half but was called into action when Ollie Ryan pressed from a pass back but the big keeper reacted well to challenge for the ball and clear the danger.

Pools went straight back up the other end of the field and made it 3-1; good work by Porter inside the area saw the striker unselfishly lay the ball square for arriving sub Michael Mackay and the youngster made no mistake as he headed home his second goal for the Club.

It was 4-1 merely seconds later and once again Joel Porter was involved in the build-up as he played it in from the left for Ian Moore who smashed home past Marriott and into the bottom right corner of the net as Pools took full control of the game despite the worsening conditions.

But the weather didn't stop Pools as a through ball from Matty Robson found the lively Porter running through into the area and once again he beat his man to slide home, making it an impressive 5-1 and giving him his hat-trick.

An impressive shot from some 25-yards out with just over ten minutes to go from Mark Stallard gave the hosts late consolation but Pools were already in the hat by this point.

Lee-Barrett pulled off a couple of good saves as the clock ticked down to maintain Pools' impressive score line, while Mackay saw a good effort deflected just over the bar at the other end but the game finished 5-2.

Pools boss Danny Wilson will now be hoping his side can take this goal-scoring impetus into Friday night's big League One clash with Bristol Rovers at The Vic.

Attendance: 936 (93 Pools)

Pools: Lee-Barrett, Liddle (Gibb 60), Clark, Antwi, Elliott, Moore, McCunnie, Sweeney, Robson, Brown (Mackay 68), Barker (Porter 9)

Subs Not Used: Nelson, Foley

Lincoln City: Marriott, Amoo, Beevers, Bencherie, Green (Wright 74), Freckington, Kerr, Hand (N'Guessan 75), Warlow (Forrester 74), Stallard, Ryan

Subs Not Used: Moses, Brown