IN THE middle ages, when shipping was such a thriving industry in Hartlepool, piracy was rife. Gianfranco Zola’s team could not have been more chillingly efficient than those pirates if they had arrived armed to the teeth with cutlasses, boarded a treasure-laden galleon at anchor, dispatched the crew and made off with the spoils.

It was not West Ham’s most aesthetic or exhilarating performance of the season, in the face of a resourceful display by the team known as the Monkey Hangers. The Hammers enjoyed the benefit of two crucial first-half refereeing decisions by Lee Mason, Carlton Cole fortunate not to be dismissed and a penalty awarded for a handball outside the area.

Hartlepool’s caretaker manager, Chris Turner, was being diplomatic when he said: “There were a number of key issues in the game which didn’t really go our way. West Ham had one half-chance in the box, which they finished, and that’s what you expect from a Premier League team. The second ball, which came in a minute later, was handball but quite clearly outside the penalty box. It gave us a mountain to climb, especially against such opposition.”

Zola will not concern himself with such issues. Victory allows the Italian to begin contemplating, if the draw remains kind to the Londoners, his team emulating what he achieved as a Chelsea striker of such distinction in 1997 and 2000, when he was a winning finalist.

Only weeks after the doom-mongers in east London were predicting a meltdown, with the Hammers’ financial troubles seemingly allied at the worst possible time to the installation of a rookie manager, his men have negated such concerns with three impressive victories from their last four league games and now progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Zola stressed beforehand that he was determined “to honour” the competition in which he played in three finals, which meant there was no ambivalence about West Ham’s attitude.

If Zola’s men expected a bruising confrontation yesterday from the team who saw off Stoke — albeit a virtual reserve team from the Potteries who cracked too easily — in round three it was not forthcoming. This collection of might-have-beens — notably the former Premier League player Ritchie Humphreys, whom it was once prophesied would be the new Marco van Basten by no less a judge than the Dutch striker himself — and might-still-becomes distinguished themselves with a display of great technical skills that belied their status.

From the flanks, Hartlepool were determined to test the visitors’ aerial security early on, and Michael Mackay’s goalbound header from a corner had to be cleared off the line by Scott Parker. Shortly afterwards, Hartlepool’s Andy Monkhouse was not far off target from distance. Cole was engaged in a physical confrontation with the home captain Michael Nelson, and the former had already been spoken to by the referee when he lunged recklessly late at goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett, an incident which prompted a fracas as players of both sides piled into the fray. Cole escaped with a caution and Herita Ilunga was also booked.

Apart from Ben Clark’s defensive header which rebounded off the top of his own crossbar and a Mark Noble effort which curled wide, the Hammers had started tentatively, but after the half hour the visitors increased their momentum. Cole was thwarted by a fine save from Lee-Barrett. It was only a brief reprieve. David di Michele ran from halfway line and fashioned a chance for Valon Behrami, whose low, precise drive eluded Lee-Barrett. A spot-kick was converted by Mark Noble a minute later when Nelson was adjudged to have handled, although TV replays confirmed the offence took place outside the area. Mason returned to a round of abuse after half-time, word having spread during the break.

Hartlepool refused to buckle. From a Matty Robson cross, Gary Liddle’s header was turned over the bar by Robert Green. Late on, Cole should have put matters beyond doubt when he rounded Lee-Barratt and struck a post. But by then Zola’s team knew they had done enough. Parker conceded that “it was not as comfortable as it seemed” but added: “We’ll be looking onwards and upwards from here.”

The followers of the club who were defeated by Liverpool on penalties in the 2006 final, after leading 2-0 and 3-2, can dream of glories anew.

Star man: Mark Noble (West Ham)

Yellow cards: West Ham: Cole, Ilunga, Collins

Referee: L Mason

Attendance: 8,649

HARTLEPOOL: Lee-Barrett 6, Sweeney 7, Nelson 6, Clark 6, Humphreys 7, Monkhouse 7, Jones 6 (Foley 85min), Liddle 7, Robson 6, Mackay 6 (Henderson 56min, 5), Porter 7

WEST HAM: Green 7, Faubert 6, Collins 7, Tomkins 6, Ilunga 6, Behrami 7, Parker 7, Noble 8, Collison 6 (Boa Morte 64min), Cole (Sears 78min), Di Michele 6 (Mullins 75min).