Hartlepool United beaten by Halifax Town in the National League.

Hartlepool United made it three defeats on the spin with a 1-0 loss away at Halifax Town.

Pools were backed by an impressive away following of 650 fans but it was another disappointing defeat for Pools and head coach Lee Clark. Pools had started the season well with back-to-back wins over Barrow and Aldershot Town but since then they have been beaten by Sutton United, Eastleigh and now Halifax Town.

Heading into the game, head coach Clark had made five changes for Hartlepool United. In came Jack Nolan, Nathan Sheron, Cameron John, Liam Gibson, and Jordan Hugill for Pools with Chris Popov and captain Jack Hunter among the players dropped. Defender Neo Eccleston served a one-match suspension following his red card against Eastleigh on Friday night at The Vic.

Meanwhile, the two other players missing were both through injury - defender Maxim Kouogun (ankle) and Corey McKeown (foot). Pools have confirmed that both are expected to be fit for the visit of Woking on Saturday afternoon at The Vic.

Halifax returned to winning ways in the Enterprise National League with a 1-0 victory at home to Hartlepool, who slumped to their third straight defeat. The visitors came close to opening the scoring nine minutes before the break when Jordan Hugill saw an effort hit the crossbar.

Halifax broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half as Zak Gilsenan played a ball into the box and Will Hugill was on hand to send a powerful strike into the back of the net.

Hartlepool pushed forward in an attempt to equalise, but True Grant denied Jay Benn and Jack Nolan as Halifax hung on to all three points.

Halifax: Grant, Bardell, Flint, Hobson, Conte, C Johnson, Hugill, Trusty, Gilsenan (Crowe 87), Morgan-Smith (Kawa 69), Carty (Tollitt 89).

Subs not used: Johnson, Bray, Hill, C Allen.

Scorer: Hugill (53)

HUFC: Merrick, Benn, Gibson (Thornton 69), McNally (C), John (Hunter 49), Sheron, Miley, Ilunga, Nolan, Hugill (Bondo 60), Harris.

Subs not used: Fisher, Penman, Penprase, Popov.

Ref: Andrew Miller

Attendance: 1,814 (650 away)