Spitfires gun down Pools to halt run HARTLEPOOL 1 EASTLEIGH 2

CRAIG Harrison was left to lament his team’s defending as Hartlepool United’s five-match unbeaten run was brought to a shattering halt.

Pools had the better of the exchanges against Eastleigh, only to be sunk by two goals inside six second-half minutes.

Spitfires skipper Callum Howe squeezed home the first from a 47th-minute corner before a delightful Mark Yeates half-volley doubled the advantage.

Pools fought strongly but had to wait until the last minute to beat visiting keeper Graham Stack when sub Jack Munns scored in the final minute of normal time with a fine finish.

Harrison’s team were not shy of openings, with Devante Rodney thwarted three times by Stack, while fellow sub Connor Simpson shot over the top.

The Pools boss blamed defensive flaws for the first defeat since a 2-0 shocker against Fylde on August 26.

“We had enough opportunities to win the game,” said Harrison. “We probably had more opportunities today than we had against Dagenham, Wrexham and Leyton Orient put together.

“The difference was in those games we defended set-plays really well.

“Today our defending at setplays was really poor.

“I’ve watched them back and for both Eastleigh goals we’ve had our set-up wrong. Individuals have not done their jobs. “That was the difference. “If we’d only conceded the first I’d have fancied us to go on and win it.”

A game of two halves is one of the oldest cliches in football, but very apt at the Vic.

The opening 45 minutes was as lifeless as they come, with Ryan Donaldson’s effort which just went over the bar in the 32nd minute the only attempt on goal from either side.

Whatever was put in the tea at the interval certainly had the desired effect.

In-form Pools keeper Scott Loach did well to block early in the second half following a Gary McSheffery free-kick, but the hosts did not heed the lesson.

Pools could not handle the corner from the right and in the ensuing scramble, Howe turned it in from close range.

Rocked by that, the hosts responded when Rhys Oates headed narrowly wide from a Nicky Deverdics cross.

However, Eastleigh doubled their lead and if the first was scruffy the second was sublime, Yeates finishing brilliantly with a half-volley from the right side of the area.

Harrison made two immediate changes, bringing on Simpson and Rodney and both were soon involved in the thick of the action.

Rodney should have pulled one back in the 67th minute when clean through but Stack made a great save, while Simpson shot over moments later.

Pools continued to press with Rodney and Munns having further chances, but all they had to show for their efforts was a good left-foot goal from their summer signing from Cheltenham.

Four added minutes came and went too quickly, Stack again saving from Rodney.

Harrison added: “Devante has forced two good saves out of the keeper and Connor unfortunately has not hit target.

“It’s unfortunate they did not score – if they had, that would have given us a huge shot in the arm and we could have kicked on.

“But we’ve scored in the last minute with four added on, so it was a big ask at the end.”