Manager Danny Wilson praised his team's character and professionalism for the way they fought back after handing Vale a 2-0 lead in the fkirst 15 minutes, and he also quite rightly praised two-goal Richard Barker (right) for his part in the win.
But no matter how the game finished, it couldn't disguise the fact that at the start Pools were cr*p.
In fact, they were worse than cr*p.
Vale are not a good side - look at the League table - but thbey looked like world-beaters against a defence that threatened to give a goal away every time the visitors moved forward.
Jan Budtz in goal looked a bundle of nerves,. Godwin Antwi had to be moved away from the middle of the defence in a damage-limitation exercise, and the team's performance was full of errors even a schoolboy would be ashamed of.
Two goals from Chris Herd punished Pools, and there could have been more as the defence appeared to be competing for who could commit the biggest howler.
Yet as Pools tried to come back, Vale keeper Joe Anyon made some great saves to preserve his team's lead.
Only after defender Krystian Pearce was sent off on the hour did Pools like like turning the tide, and when Barker narrowed the gp, the fightback was on.
Antony Sweeney - how can he be left out of a Pools team? - equalized three minutes from time, and Barker headed the winner as the match moved into added time.
He played the last half-hour with a suspected broken nose and produced the sort of performance that must make people wonder who some fans have criticised him this season. He's scored 16 goals and for his performance against Vale he deserves a medal the side of a bin-lid.
But Wilson must be wondering what on earth he's going to do about his two central defenders at Chletenham on Saturday - Sam Collins and Michael Nelson are suspended, Ben Clark is still injured and surely he can't allow Antwi to play there again yet.
It was a win, and a valuable one, but the horror show in the first half will be the abiding memory in a game that just about summed up the season for Pools - cr*p at times, average at times, brave at times.
One last word on the FA decision to refuse Pools appeal against Collin's red card at Southend, to describe it as frivolous, and to add an extra game to his suspension - what a load of b*ll*cks, on a day when players from Premiership clubs got away with much more.
One law for the rich, one for the poor.

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