ROY KELLY'S ANALYSIS: Hartlepool must stop late giveaways

Forgive my flippancy. There is another f-word on my mind as I begin another ‘what if’ story – frustration.

This reporter hopes, prays even, that the Pools squad do not go down by two or three points in May.

For the fourth time in six matches, Pools have conceded goals in the last 10 minutes .

Three of those instances have cost Pools points.

l Two at Cambridge, where Pools leaked a last-minute equaliser to the U’s

l It was a point lost last Tuesday when Jon Stead headed Notts County to a 3-2 victory.

And a deserved point went begging on Saturday at Kenilworth Road, where Craig Mackail-Smith stole an 86th-minute winner.

This writer can see a pattern emerging. To happen once may be unfortunate, twice unbearable, but three times? Unforgivable.

Craig Hignett’s side did make further strides forward against the Hatters – to quote an old British Rail slogan, Pools can say “we’re getting there.”

However, if the journey is to have a happy ending they must find a cure – and quickly.

For the previous 85 minutes, Pools gave a terrific display. Sometimes, I take possession stats with apinch of salt, but could quite believe the away side had 51 per cent of the ball at Kenilworth Road.

You might say “big deal”, but four days after struggling to pass from A to B against Notts County, this was good news.

Of course, not every pass reached it’s destination – this is Pools, but Barcelona but it’s a basis for optimism and, crucially, results.

Hignett, possibly by accident, may just have found his ideal formation.

Minor injuries to Luke James (thigh) and Michael Woods (hamstring) forced him into changes.

There was a brand new midfield formation with Brad Walker, Nicky Featherstone and Lewis Hawkins teaming up in the centre.

Featherstone held it together with a commanding performance with Hawkins and Walker providing impetus going forward.

It meant Jake Gray was on the right of Billy Paynter but he looked comfortable – and dangerous – and while Nathan Thomas was a little erratic on the left, there was more promise from the 21-year-old.

The defence of Carl Magnay, Matthew Bates, Adam Jackson and Jake Carroll performed well as a unit – what a shame therefore that their good work went to waste five minutes from time.

That foursome and Trevor Carson behind them did have work to do – Luton were not shy in applying pressure and Pools had to dig themselves out a couple of times and rely on a bit of luck.

They scrambled clear in the 12th minute while Stephen O’Donnell flashed a shot wide and Jack Marriott was put through when Pools were caught square only for the midfielder to lose the ball.

But in terms of football and chances, Pools were well and truly in contention. Gray put over a perfect low cross in the 18th minute which Paynter was inches away from reaching with the gola at his mercy and Hawkins had a shot blocked by desperate defence.

Paynter set up Thomas in the 40th minute after cleverly getting in behind the home defence but the winger missed from just outside the six-yard box from straight in front of the goal. It was easier to score.

It was catching. After the break, at the same end, if slightly further out,Cameron McGeehan put a left-foot shot wide of the other post after a brilliant run.

But it was a rare home threat and there was an opening for Pools when Thomas made a superb break before putting in Gray, whose shot was blocked by the sliding Alan Sheehan.

Pools though were to fall behind on the hour. Bates conceded a free-kick on the D directly in front of goal. Danny Green’s delivery struck the wall, prompting an appeal for a penalty from the taker, with referee Andy Davies pointing straight to the spot.

Many felt it a hard call against Featherstone in the wall, with Hignett viewing it as a hometown decision. Having watched the replay and having conceded a penalty or two in my time, it looked a correct call. It did strike him on his arm.

McGeehan sent Carson the wrong way, with the spot-kick going low in the keeper’s right-hand corner.

However, Pools were level in five minutes. Bates came forward and found Thomas on the left. The forward came off his wing and let fly with his right foot and Mark Dyler got down well to his right to turn it out for a corner.

And from the flag-kick, Gray’s high delivery was headed in from six yards by Jackson for his second goal in three games. Luton thought they had cleared it off the line but the linesman ruled otherwise and it was 1-1.

Pools, from then on, took control, with Luton forced to get men behind the ball and play second fiddle. Walker almost got in, with Tyler saving comfortably, while Paynter went over with a speculative effort.

A point looked the mimimum Pools would get until they switched off in the 86th minute. Bates did not deal with Sheehan’s long ball forward from the back, with Mackail-Smith controlling well in the away box and lifting an angled shot into the net despite Jackson’s desperate lunge to keep it out.

Gray had a shot straight at Tyler at the start of stoppage time and Magnay sliced over with the last kick of the afternoon as Pools were left to rue another late giveaway.