Hat-trick hero Ben Williamson, was spoke to the press after helping Vale in a comfortable 6-2 win over Hartlepool with three goals.

Williamson was delighted to get his season underway and hopes more will come, and this will be his season, but feels it was down to a good pre-season which has given him confidence in front of goal.

Williamson said: “It was nice to get off the mark, you always wonder when that first goal will come and I obviously got three so I feel lucky.

“I shut my eyes when that first cross came in and it luckily came off my head and went in. It’s obviously nice to get through to the next round and that was the main thing at the start of the game.

“I feel like I scored a few more goals this pre-season compared to others and that has given me a bit of confidence, which I took into the season. I now have to build on that performance.”

He feels that his partnership with Tom Pope will help them both get more goals this season.

He continued: “There’s only me and (Tom) Pope at the moment, and we know the Gaffer is trying to bring someone else in, so I’m just trying to impress while I have the chance. Hopefully, I can take it into the next game and keep my place.

“I’ve had chances in the past that I haven’t taken, but I took all three tonight so hopefully I can build on that and have a good season.

“I think me and Pope compliment each other well, so hopefully we can keep building on that, keep playing together and getting goals.”

Watch the full interview with man of the match Ben Williamson on Valiant Player tomorrow morning.