Woking 4-0 Hartlepool United: New owner Landon Smith's era begins in miserable fashion as Pools thumped in Surrey

Despite coming into the game with a whole host of newfound optimism following the takeover of the club by American businessman and investor Landon Smith, Pools endured a nightmarish first half and found themselves two goals and a man down at the break.

The hosts went ahead thanks to Olly Sanderson's looping header after 10 minutes before doubling their lead on the half-hour mark through Chinwike Okoli. Things got even worse for a dire Pools when Cameron John, so often lauded for his level-headedness and reliability, was sent off following a late challenge on Josh Osude on the stroke of half time.

In truth, Pools never really looked like getting back into the game and the visitors went further behind when Harry Beautyman scored his fifth goal of the campaign with 14 minutes of normal time remaining. The dominant hosts, who were much-better than Pools in every single department, completed the rout late on when substitute Ashley Boatswain finished off a flowing move to make it 4-0. Speaking after the game, manager Nicky Featherstone said the defeat was the most embarrassing moment of his life.

Pools, who made one change as Reiss McNally returned to make his first start since September 13, were a little tentative in the opening exchanges and George Evans, who extended his loan from Millwall until February earlier in the week, had to react quickly to deny Aiden O'Brien after the young goalkeeper had initially parried a cross from the right into a dangerous area in the third minute.

Woking took a well-deserved lead after 10 minutes when Sanderson headed home his sixth goal of the campaign. Pools, uncharacteristically, switched off at the back and Sanderson was allowed to run across John before the towering Fulham loanee headed an inch-perfect cross from the advancing Caleb Richards over the despairing Evans, who had no chance, and into the top corner.

Things went from bad to worse for the lacklustre visitors when Woking doubled their lead through Okoli after half an hour. Featherstone's side were sitting far, far too deep and the impressive Beautyman, so often the scourge of Pools, unlocked the defence before Okoli, who was left unmarked at the back post, fired home from close range.

Just when Pools must have been hoping to limp towards half time and have a chance to regroup, the normally reliable John was shown a straight red card following a reckless challenge on the outstanding Osude. The York loanee, who has hardly put a foot wrong this season, appeared to be struggling throughout the first half after going down with an injury in the opening exchanges before a moment of madness in the third minute of added time as he steamed into the back of the Woking winger, the pick of the home side's players, and gave referee Calum Walchester little choice but to give him his marching orders.

Unsurprisingly, Pools finished the first half on the back foot and Beautyman fired straight down the throat of Evans moments before the break as a dire opening period from the point of view of the visitors came to an end.

Pools made a change at the break, reverting to a flat back four as Jack Hunter replaced Matty Daly, but the visitors continued to ride their luck at the beginning of the second half as Jamie Andrews and the impressive Sanderson both went close.

The visitors fashioned a half-chance 10 minutes into the second half when McNally headed over following Adam Campbell's deep free-kick, but the visitors were chasing shadows for the most part as Woking continued to dominate.

Pools huffed and puffed but it was, generally, proving to be a thankless task as McNally lashed an effort well over the bar with 23 minutes of normal time remaining. In truth, there was a sense that Pools had waved the white flag after John’s dismissal and Featherstone’s side appeared to be going through the motions in the second half.

The Pools boss made three more changes in the 69th minute but Woking continued to control the game, with O'Brien flashing a venomous strike off target as the lacklustre visitors sat back and prayed for the full-time whistle.

Two of Featherstone's substitutions almost combined with 20 minutes left on the clock as Jermaine Francis flashed a ball across the face of goal towards the waiting Pharrell Brown, but the Hull loanee was flat-footed and Woking survived.

Woking added a third in the 76th minute when Beautyman, who scored an added time winner against Pools last season, continued his superb record against Featherstone's side with a deft first-time finish following substitute Jack Turner's pinpoint cross.

The hosts added insult to injury in the 90th minute when the recently-introduced Boatswain made it 4-0 to Woking, allowed to run rampant against a crestfallen Pools, who looked like they'd thrown in the towel in the second half.

Woking almost added a fifth in added time through debutant Tom Dryer as an utterly miserable afternoon came to an end for Pools, who host Altrincham next Saturday, with kick-off at 12:30.

Pools could hardly have made a worse start to life under Smith but will have to dust themselves down ahead of what has the potential to be a memorable weekend at Victoria Park, with the club’s new American owner expected to be in attendance.

Pools (3-4-3): Evans; McNally, Kouogun, John; Benn, Sheron (c), Miley, Daly (sub, Hunter, 45); Campbell (sub, Johnson, 69), Reid (sub, Francis, 69), Charman (sub, Brown, 69)