Same Old Story For Hartlepool: Report

Hartlepool United lost on the road again, this time to a single goal at Northampton Town

Ben Clark was restored to the line up with Gary Liddle being dropped to the bench. Hartlepool knew Northampton would be difficult but Hartlepool deserved more than what they got.

Pools played some nice two-touch football and created numerous chances to win the game.

But they were again made to pay for a defensive lapse. Sam Collins got turned by ex-Carlisle striker Karl Hawley before beating Arran Lee-Barrett.

Adebayo Akinfenwa had a perfect opportunity to double the lead for the Cobblers, but it was Hartlepool who always looked the more dangerous of the two teams.

On-loan Kevin Kyle missed two easy one on one chances for an equaliser while Andy Monkhouse, Joel Porter and Sam Collins also went close, but still to no prevail.

Northampton took the lead against the run of play in the 17th minute after a superb piece of goal mouth play from on-loan Preston striker Karl Hawley.

Abdul Osman picked up the ball on the right and crossed the ball into the box. Hawley, with his back to goal eight yards out, took an excellent first touch and span Sam Collins before firing in a low shot towards the far corner which Arran Lee-Barrett couldn't keep out.

Kevin Kyle missed another chance he should have finished in the 27th minute. Hartlepool had played well in this half and should have had a hatful of goals.

HT: Northampton 1 Hartlepool 0

Pools continued to create clearcut opportunities and it was Monkhouse's turn to waste a terrific opportunity in the 55th minute.

Humphreys flew down the left flank after a one-two with Clark and he hit the by-line before pulling the ball back to Monkhouse on the corner of the six-yard box. Sadly, Monkhouse slipped and miss hit the ball wide.

Pools were completely on top but just couldn't find the clinical equaliser. A clever free-kick from Humphreys on the hour set Porter away down the left and his pass to Collins almost met his path.

Pools were almost gifted an equaliser in the 72nd minute when Porter won a header and Fielding came out to collect a routine ball only for the keeper to drop it and watch it deflect off Chris Doig and drift wide.

Kyle had a perfect chance to grab an equaliser with three minutes left on the clock after Porter's ball to the right, but the Scot's drilled shot went straight into the crowded goalmouth.

FT: Northampton 1 Hartlepool 0 Disappointing but I've come to expect this. We need to start finishing chances and Kevin Kyle needs to notch soon or Barker leaving will seem stupid.

We played well but didn't get that elusive equaliser. Back to the drawing board!

MOM: Sweeney - Excellent again. Solid and combative Northampton: Fielding, Crowe (Coke 71), Jackman, Hughes, Akinfenwa, Holt, Davis (Doig 58), Osman, Little, Hawley, Guttridge (Gilligan 58). Subs not used: Constantine, Dunn. Booked: Gilligan (74), Akinfenwa (77), Hughes (81)

Hartlepool: Lee-Barrett, Sweeney, Nelson, Collins, Humphreys (Robson 70), Monkhouse (Mackay 85), Clark, Jones, Porter, Brown, Kyle. Subs not used: McCunnie, Liddle, Rowell. Jones (80)

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