STUMBLING SHOTS HIT BY POOLS’ MAIN MANI

TOMMY Widdrington’s old stomping ground didn’t do Aldershot’s play-off hopes any favours.

The Shots boss, a former midfielder who helped Hartlepool United earn promotion in 2003, was left frustrated as Mani Dieseruvwe’s 21st league goal of the season separated the duo for most of the game.

Diseruvwe’s clinical penalty dispatched powerfully inside the top right corner in the 18th minute arrived after Ryan Glover had needlessly tripped the striker in the area.

And, despite a second half largely spent in the Hartlepool half, a mixture of good defending and excellent goalkeeping from the hosts laid the foundations for Tom Parkes to head in the second with three minutes left.

Widdrington, whose side still occupy the final play-off spot despite five matches without a win, was serving a one-match touchline ban and his No.2 Hugo Langton said: “We have to keep going, it is how you react in difficult times, do you fight back when you hit the floor? I’d like to think these lads can get off the floor.

“We had a lot of the ball, what we didn’t do was put the ball in the net. The two goals conceded were disappointing. Other than that, when it comes to the important part, we had to do better.

“We have to give kudos to the keeper, one stand-out save from a Lorent Tolaj free-kick, but result wise we have been punched in the nose and we have to fight back.”

Aldershot created the better chances. Jameson was equal to a couple of efforts from striker Tolaj either side of Dieseruvwe’s spot-kick.

Pools boss Kevin Phillips, satisfied to have won for only the second time in eight games, said: “Fantastic result, I couldn’t have asked for more after the set back on Monday.

“It was a magnificent finish from Mani. I think it was well deserved for a great performance first half. We didn’t play anywhere near as well second half, but we showed hunger and desire to win a football match.”

After Dieseruvwe’s opener, Hartlepool had to do more of the defending.

The lively Josh Stokes looked like scoring a few times but found Jameson equal to his efforts.

The goalkeeper did well to block an effort when Stokes worked his way in behind the backline seconds after the restart.

Soon after that Stokes found Jameson in the way again for two shots inside a minute from close range – and the visitors kept pushing from there on in.

But Hartlepool found their attacking feet in the latter stages and could have extended their lead earlier through substitute Chay Cooper when he curled wide of the far post.

Cooper and Dieseruvwe were also denied by Shots’ Jordi van Stappershoef before Parkes rose to head in Ferguson’s corner to wrap up the points. STAR MAN: Pete Jameson (Hartlepool) ATT: 4,470 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Stuart Morland