ALTHOUGH no longer a Hartlepool United player, striker Eifion Williams was delighted to learn that he had collected the award for the best goal scored by a player from the North-East of England last season.

"At the recent North East Football Awards Dinner, one of my two goals scored against Darlington at their ground was voted the best goal in the region for 2006/07," he said.

"It's nice to pick up any award, but even more so when I found out that Alan Shearer was one of the panel that voted for me."

The selected goal was his second of the afternoon at the TFM Arena back in March, 2007, when Hartlepool made it a club record 22 games without defeat by seeing off the Quakers 3-0 in front of nearly 4,000 travelling fans.

"My first goal was a good one," recalled Eifion.

"But the second was a bit special, as I controlled a cross from the left and before the ball had hit the ground volleyed it home over the keeper."

The North East Football Awards are made on behalf of the Prince's Trust and as Eifion was unable to attend the trophy was send down to Wrexham.