ACCORDING to the TV advert for a well-known injury lawyer, the world is in a "delicate state of spiritual balance".

For every good thing that happens, something bad occurs to even things out.

But in May, when Kevin Bond looks back on a season that promised so much but delivered very little, he'll probably consider Sam Vokes's superb development as scant compensation for a string of costly injuries that all-but killed off the pre-season hope before Christmas.

Gareth Stewart's latest setback, a broken left ankle sustained during Saturday's victory over Hartlepool United at Dean Court, will, if nothing else, give Bond a chance to blood what appears to be a sound investment for the future in Ryan Pryce - without too much fear of effect on the League One points tally.

Stewart's injury, without question, took the gloss off a comfortable win over Pools, but Vokes's finishing continues to excite, the youngster's brace seeing off Danny Wilson's woeful outfit.

Vokes's double, a bullet header after six minutes and a deft right-foot finish in first-half stoppage time, lit up an otherwise uninspiring clash.

Danny Hollands returned after serving a one-match suspension, with Jason Pearce making way and Shaun Cooper filling in at right back.

And it was Cherries who had the best of the early exchanges, with Pools keeper Arran Lee-Barrett forced into action to gather at the feet of Jo Kuffour after Vokes's neat header into the six-yard box.

And in a dominating opening few minutes, Vokes went from provider to goalscorer to give Cherries a deserved lead.

Max Gradel's shot from the edge of the box was deflected away for a corner and Vokes was duly on hand to nod home Warren Cummings's inswinger and send the Dean Court support into raptures.

Marvin Bartley's foul on Michael Nelson gave Pools their first meaningful chance on 15 minutes, but Ritchie Humphreys's 35-yard free kick went straight into the Cherries wall.

Kuffour should have put Bond's charges 2-0 up after 25 minutes after weaving his way through the Hartlepool defence, but Lee-Barrett pushed the former Brentford striker's shot around the post.

Antony Sweeney forced Stewart into action on the half-hour, the Cherries keeper beating his shot round the post, before Gradel fired over Lee-Barrett's bar moments later.

Gradel found himself in space on the right again on 33 minutes, but the Leicester loan man's cross was too far in front of the supporting Vokes.

Richard Barker could have put Pools on level terms with 10 minutes of the first half remaining, but his stretched shot finished deep in the North Stand.

Then Cherries' quest for survival took a huge blow when Stewart was stretchered off and rushed to hospital after 38 minutes.

The Cherries keeper leapt to claim a cross and appeared to land awkwardly on his left leg, but even that failed to knock the wind out of the men in front of him.

And Vokes was on hand to gift Bond's side a 2-0 half-time lead deep into stoppage time.

The 18-year-old latched on to a loose ball after Bartley's graft had split the Pools defence and the Lymington teenager finished with class into the far corner past the diving Lee-Barrett.

Tom Craddock could have reduced the arrears three minutes after the restart, but replacement keeper Pryce saved well down to his left.

Vokes had a chance to complete his hat-trick just moments later but the youngster's well-hit drive was tipped over the crossbar by Lee-Barrett.

An increasingly desperate Barker was booked by referee Danny McDermid after 57 minutes for a theatrical dive under pressure from Josh Gowling as Wilson's men pushed hard for a comeback.

But Brett Pitman replaced Kuffour just past the hour mark and the Jersey-born frontman almost made an instant impact.

Vokes broke clear on halfway before bursting into the Pools box, but his pass to Pitman was agonisingly short with the Channel Islander well placed.

Sweeney's 78th-minute header flashed past Pryce's left-hand upright and while Wilson's side claimed a large percentage of the second-half possession, they struggled to break down a well-marshalled and resolute Cherries back four.

Sweeney had a fair shout for a penalty waved away by McDermid with eight minutes remaining, the lively midfielder hitting the deck under Gowling's heavy challenge.

The impressive Gradel could have made it three with four minutes remaining, however, after running a tired Pools defence ragged.

But the winger's shot was parried by Lee-Barrett and Pitman's follow-up gathered safely by the former Weymouth stopper.

Joel Porter's weak drive was comfortably saved by Pryce in the dying moments and, despite a further four minutes of stoppage time, Bond's charges held on for all three points.

Cherries (4-4-2): Stewart 7 (Pryce, 38), Young 7.5, Gowling 7.5, Cooper 8, Cummings 7.5; Gradel 8, Hollands 7.5, Bartley 7.5, Bradbury 7.5 (Tessem, 72); Kuffour 7 (Pitman, 64), Vokes 8.5*.

Unused subs: Pearce, Partington.

Booked: Bartley, Cooper, Bradbury.

Hartlepool Utd (4-4-2): Lee-Barrett, Antwi, Nelson, Lee, Humphreys; Sweeney Liddle, Boland (Monkhouse, 55), Foley (Porter, 75); Barker, Craddock (Mackay, 70).

Unused subs: McCunnie, Robson.

Booked: Boland, Barker, Monkhouse.

Attendance: 3,984.

Referee: Danny McDermid (Middlesex).