Hartlepool United 0-1 Halifax Town: Pools' play-off hopes hanging by a thread following defeat by spirited Shaymen

Pools knew that three points would have seen them leapfrog the Shaymen and, temporarily at least, lift them into the top seven for the first time since September. Instead, Nicky Featherstone's side slipped to back-to-back defeats following a late strike from the prolific Will Harris.

Both in South Shields, Halifax's leading scorer lashed home from long range with nine minutes of normal time remaining to condemn Pools, who hit the bar in the first half through Tyrese Sinclair, to their seventh home defeat of another frustrating campaign.

Pools, who made two changes from Tuesday night's bitterly disappointing defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Sutton United, started the game brightly and almost went in front inside 20 seconds when Sinclair blazed wide after good work between Matty Daly and Nathan Sheron, who unlocked the Halifax defence with a delicate ball over the top.

Halifax started to grow into the game but Pools came close after six minutes when pressure from Carlie Caton, making his first start since signing on loan from League Two Accrington Stanley, diverted the ball into Adam Campbell's path but experienced goalkeeper Sam Johnson was off his line sharply to snuff out the danger.

Nick Hayes was called into action for the first time in the 10th minute when Jay Turner-Cooke caught hold of a half-volley from long range but the Pools goalkeeper did well to parry his effort out of danger before the home side cleared.

Sinclair, as so often, was taking up some good positions and the York City loanee headed over from a difficult angle following Cameron John's threatening cross from the flank after 19 minutes.

Daly and Sinclair were combining well in the opening exchanges and the pair fashioned another opportunity in the 24th minute, with Sinclair flashing over at the near post after Daly's stinging corner.

The home side were looking increasingly threatening and Daly was denied after 26 minutes by a brave block from the impressive Cody Johnson, who threw himself in front of the midfielder's goalbound after after Campbell and Jay Benn, who began his career at the Shay, linked up down the right.

Although things were proving relatively comfortable for Johnson in the Halifax goal, the home side were in the ascendancy and the influential Daly fired a speculative effort well wide in the 27th minute.

Jack Hunter, who enjoyed a successful spell at Halifax before signing for Pools in the summer of 2024, was impressing in the engine room on his return to the side and the 28-year-old forced a save from Johnson after 32 minutes, turning well inside the area before firing an effort across the face of goal; in the end, it was comfortable for the sprawling Halifax skipper.

The hosts were getting closer and came within a whisker of opening the scoring two minutes later when Sinclair cannoned a free-kick against the crossbar. With Halifax scrambling to clear, Benn fired over from the rebound as the visitors held on.

Pools, who introduced Calvin Okike in place of the stricken Tom Parkes at the break, fashioned the first chance of the second half when Sinclair fired over after Sheron had unleashed the marauding Benn with a well-weighted through ball in the 50th minute.

At the other end, Halifax were working hard without creating too much in terms of opportunities. Josh Hmami dragged an effort well wide after gliding past the otherwise excellent Hunter nine minutes after the restart, but his effort never looked like troubling Hayes.

Despite the introductions of Alex Reid and Jamie Miley, surprise omissions from the starting XI, Pools were struggling to get going in the second half and Halifax's Will Harris forced a save from Hayes after 69 minutes; the Pools goalkeeper was a little bit fortunate after parrying the defender's dipping effort back into danger.

All of a sudden, Pools threatened to spark into life and Daly's deflected effort caused problems for the uncertain Johnson, who was unable to gather his strike in the 74th minute as home fans roared their side on.

The hosts were beginning to press forward but Benn, who was enjoying another impressive afternoon, had to hook a ball off his own goal line with 14 minutes of normal time remaining after Halifax fired a dangerous delivery into the area.

The game was beginning to open up and Reid failed to make proper contact with a low drive after 79 minutes while Halifax substitute Owen Bray felt he was fouled on the edge of the home side's box following a purposeful forward run, although referee Richie Watkins waved away his rather hopeful appeals.

Halifax took the lead in the 81st minute thanks to the in-form Harris, who scored his 18th goal in 20 games. Since missing a penalty against Pools in November, the prolific frontman, who spent time on trial at Victoria Park in 2022, had been in remarkable scoring form and the 25-year-old added to his impressive tally with a venomous strike from range.

Pools pressed for an equaliser and Sinclair once again stung the palms of Johnson but the home side rarely looked like levelling as their play-off hopes, already slim, were left hanging by a thread.

Pools now turn their attention to next weekend's mammoth trip to bottom club Truro City, among the longest journeys in English football.

Pools (4-2-3-1): Hayes; Benn, Kougoun, Parkes (c) (sub, Okike, 45), John; Hunter, Sheron (sub, Folarin, 76); Daly, Campbell (sub, Miley, 65), Sinclair (sub, Oliver, 90); Caton (sub, Reid, 65)

Att: 4,534 (222 away)