Hartlepool United's woes continue with narrow home defeat against Harrogate Town

Hartlepool United’s poor run of form continued as they suffered a narrow home defeat against National League promotion contenders Harrogate Town.

A deflected effort from visitors captain Bailey Hobson ten minutes into the second-half was enough to condemn Pools to an eighth defeat in nine games and leave them in the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s home game with Tamworth.

Pools created the first meaningful opportunity of the game with the midway point of the first-half approaching - and with it came what would have been a magical moment for young midfielder Charlie Thornton. The 18-year-old produced a barnstorming run in behind the visitors defence but was unable to make the most of a promising opportunity as his scuffed effort was tipped beyond the far post by Sulphurites goalkeeper Luke Hutchinson.

Cole Deeming was also denied by the visitors stopper just minutes later before Will Harris crashed an angled drive over the bar after he was found by a neat pass from Jamie Miley. It had been quiet opening 40 minutes for Pools new boy Max Thompson - but that all changed five minutes before the break as the former Newcastle United goalkeeper produced a sharp save to deny Brad Dolaghan.

However, it was Pools that ended the half on the front foot as strike duo Harris and Jordan Hugill combined for the latter to race through on goal before dragging a shot beyond the advancing Hutchinson and past his far post to ensure the deadlock remained in the place at the break.

Despite making a bright start to the second-half, Pools found themselves a goal down nine minutes after the restart in somewhat unfortunate circumstances. A quick break from their visitors ended with captain Hobson finding space 20 yards from goal before sending a deflected effort beyond the helpless Thompson from the edge of the box.

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The goal prompted the Pools interim management team to look to their bench as Brooklyn Ilunga, Luke Charman and Jack Nolan were introduced into the action. However, there was constant frustration in the final 20 minutes as the standard of delivery into the visitors area lacked quality and several promising situations to put the Sulphurites under major pressure were wasted.

There was a half-chance inside the final minutes as Nolan and Jay Benn combined to the right-hand side and the latter was able to get a dangerous cross into the area. However, the arriving Charman was unable to direct an awkward looking header goalwards and the visitors lead remained in tact when referee Jamie O’Connor blew the full-time whistle with only three of the signalled four injury-time minutes played.

Hartlepool United: Thompson, John (Ilunga), Hunter, McNally, Miley, Hugill (Charman), Harris, Eccleston (Benn), Sheron, Thornton (Bondo), Deeming (Nolan) Subs: Fisher, Popov

Harrogate Town: Hutchinson, Bristow, Baptiste, McGowan (McCoulsky), Williams, Hobson, Dreyer, Hmami (Thomson), Dolaghan (Taylor), Cass, Horton Subs: Oxley, Burrell, Craig, McGuckin

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