Hartlepool United suffer first National League home defeat under Kevin Phillips as Barnet triumph 2-1

Pools, who had recorded a five-match unbeaten run under Phillips to reignite their play-off hopes, struggled to make an impact in a disappointing opening 45 minutes.

Striker Gatlin O’Donkor made Hartlepool pay for affording him too much space in the 12th minute by stroking in his third goal of the season for the Bees.

And, with half-time approaching, Anthony Hartigan’s curling free-kick from towards the touchline carried straight over the despairing dive of goalkeeper Joel Dixon.

Despite improvements after the restart, and a lovely headed goal from Nicky Featherstone late on, Phillips suffered his first home defeat since taking over.

In the absence of defender Luke Waterfall through illness, Manny Onariase was introduced to the back four.

Phillips was also quick to hand starts to Terrell Agyemang and Kwaku Oduroh after their arrivals on loan from Middlesbrough and Derby on Friday.

Agyemang was preferred to Kieran Wallace as the replacement for the suspended Tom Crawford in midfield while Oduroh was introduced at right-back ahead of Louis Stephenson.

Phillips’ hopes of an instant impact were soon dashed.

O’Donkor was left in far too much space by Tom Parkes in the final third when he was picked out by the Zak Brunt’s quick pass.

The striker, on loan from Oxford, had the time to control and then roll a low finish inside the bottom right corner of Joel Dixon’s net.

It was exactly what Barnet had deserved and things never really improved for Hartlepool after that.

The nearest Phillips’s side came to scoring in the first half was when Mani Dieseruvwe cut inside from the left and hit a tame effort into the arms of goalkeeper Josh Keeley from 20 yards.

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The frustrating thing for Hartlepool was that influential defender Parkes, pivotal to the recent turnaround in fortunes, had to hobble off through injury.

That mood worsened a minute remaining of the first half when Onariase needlessly conceded a free-kick near the touchline deep in his own half by bringing down O’Donkor.

There was still plenty for the taker to do. But Hartigan’s delightful delivery towards the back post flew straight inside the top corner over Dixon’s outstretched arm.

In a bid to change things, Philips brought striker Courtney Duffus on to partner Dieseruvwe, who had a couple of early headers go close, and moved Agyemang to right-back after taking Oduroh off.

But Barnet still posed greater threat initially.

Callum Stead was inches away from making it three when his low effort bounced just wide of the upright after Callum Cooke lost possession.

The Bees didn’t need to risk anything and seemed happier to keep the blue and white shirts at bay the longer the game went on.

Yet still the home side couldn’t find a breakthrough.

Callum Cooke went close with three minutes remaining when a free-kick had to be turned behind for a corner by Keeley.

And then Featherstone rose above everyone else in the box to glance Agyemang’s delivery beyond the keeper to raise hope of a late fightback.

That, though, never materialised and Barnet held on to a victory Hartlepool can have few complaints about.