MAYBE Sam Vokes should buy the club.

Cherries' boy wonder certainly has the golden touch, as Hartlepool found to their cost on Saturday.

In a week when the saga surrounding the club's ownership took another major twist, Vokes provided some welcome relief on the pitch.

Cherries' adopted Welshman marked St David's Day by taking his goal tally into double figures with a splendid first-half brace.

And as the club lurches from one crises to another, with the main protagonists bickering in the board room, Vokes continues to let his feet and his head do the talking.

Exasperated at the club's sorry plight, most fans would doubtless give Vokes their backing if he were to form a consortium. Funding, however, could be a problem for the teenager.

"If I had the money then maybe I would!" laughed Vokes, when asked whether he would like to rescue the stricken club. And there was not a confidentiality agreement in sight.

Anyway, the youngster had more pressing matters as he faced the press following his two-goal haul.

"With it being Mother's Day tomorrow, I'd like to dedicate the goals to my mum," said the 18-year-old. "She was here today, she watches every home game and I'm taking her out for dinner tomorrow."

Proud of their son's already-remarkable achievements in such a short space of time, mother Penny and father Tim would have been positively glowing following their offspring's latest display.

However, his countrymen may have been less impressed on the day of their patron saint.

"I forgot my daffodil so that was a bit of a poor show!" joked the seven-times capped Welsh under-21 international, who was born in Southampton.

Vokes's inspirational performance was no laughing matter for Hartlepool, who never looked likely to recover after the youngster had thumped Cherries into a sixth-minute lead.

Having registered the first headed goal of his professional career against Nottingham Forest last month, Vokes doubled his tally with a bullet-like effort following a well-worked short corner.

It was the ideal start and came just seconds after Maxi Gradel's fierce drive had been headed around the post by Pools defender Graeme Lee.

Referee Danny McDermid then decided to take centre stage by brandishing yellow cards at both Marvin Bartley and Lee Bradbury for curious reasons known only to himself.

He chose not to book Danny Hollands, however, for by far the worst challenge of a thoroughly tame affair on David Foley in the opening 10 minutes.

And although the sensible pill in his half-time cuppa certainly did the trick, McDermid's display was as off-colour as the garish orange boots worn by both Gradel and Foley.

Lee's off-target header was the sum total of Hartlepool's efforts during the opening skirmishes, while Arran Lee-Barrett's timely save from Jo Kuffour's 25th-minute drive kept the visitors in touch.

Pools finally managed to find their feet but not the back of the net when Gareth Stewart threw himself to block at the feet of Foley on the half-hour.

Tom Craddock then squandered Pools' best chance, blazing high over the crossbar after Foley had slipped him clear five minutes later.

Cherries' cause was hindered when Stewart was stretchered off after sustaining a bad ankle injury when he landed awkwardly having claimed a cross.

The goalkeeper immediately called for assistance and was visibly distressed as he writhed in agony on the turf. His untimely demise saw rookie Ryan Pryce pressed into action.

Following a lengthy stoppage, bumbling ref McDermid re-started play with a goal kick, even though Stewart had deliberately thrown the ball out for a corner to seek treatment.

This potentially major setback for the hosts could have rocked them. Instead, they were galvanised and Vokes's second goal soon followed.

After Bartley's dogged persistence had set up the opening, Vokes dispatched a delightful curling right-foot shot into the bottom corner of Lee-Barrett's net.

His sublime finish and excellent first-half display must have had scouts from Southampton, Crystal Palace, QPR and Glasgow Celtic purring.

Vokes's performance again made an absolute mockery of the £200,000 that Cherries had been prepared to sell him for just a month ago. Gentlemen, start the bidding at £1m.

Much of the second half was spent hoping Vokes would record his first hat-trick since his treble fired Priestlands School to Hampshire Cup glory in 2006.

And after an early save had given Pryce confidence, Lee-Barrett denied Vokes by tipping his rasping 48th-minute piledriver over the crossbar.

Vokes then unselfishly - and, ultimately, unwisely - chose to pass to Brett Pitman rather than go it alone following a lung-bursting run from inside his own half.

And he also crossed to Bartley when shooting looked a better option, with Lee-Barrett untroubled by either attack.

Hartlepool's tactic of not testing Pryce was baffling but also testament to a magnificent rearguard action from Cherries, which was superbly marshalled by the outstanding Josh Gowling.

The equally-impressive Gradel was denied by Michael Nelson's heroic block after the Ivorian had waltzed through four minutes from time, while the defender also thwarted Pitman's follow-up.

However, the day belonged to Sir Sam of Lymington, who must command a king's ransom if he is to become a patron of Saints or any other club for that matter.