Pools lost out 2-0 to Bournemouth at The Fitness First Stadium this afternoon in what was a disappointing game for Danny Wilson's men.
Two first-half goals from Sam Vokes were enough to take all three points from this fixture as Pools once again failed to pick up the points away from The Vic.
It was the hosts who started the brightest this afternoon and they made things very difficult for Pools by hitting in the opener in just the 6th minute of play.
Bournemouth pushed from the off and Arran Lee-Barrett, replacing Jan Budtz between the sticks, had to be brave inside the first two minutes when he threw himself at the feet of Jo Kuffour to snatch possession in a dangerous position inside the box.
Sam Vokes made a good run down the right wing before poking the ball through to Max-Alain Gradel but the tricky winger's ball across the box sailed past goal with no one there to tap home.
Lee-Barrett had his blushes spared when he ran out of his area to kick clear only to miss the ball. Fortunately the big keeper reacted quick enough to recover and get a touch at the second attempt.
The ball rolled clear from this incident to Gradel whose low shot at goal was deflected well by Graeme Lee but unfortunately Pools were punished from the resulting corner kick.
Warren Cummings lifted the ball in from the right and Sam Vokes, who was a constant threat for the hosts, rose highest to fire a bullet header into the roof of the net, leaving Lee-Barrett with no chance.
Pools managed to slow things down after the goal and get some steady possession of their own but despite some good movement from midfield, there was no real threat in the final third for Bournemouth to deal with.
A Willie Boland corner in the 18th minute saw Pools first real chance at goal but Graeme Lee's powerful header went just over the bar.
Bournemouth looked the more dangerous going forward for much of the half and the Pools' rear guard were made to work hard - Ritchie Humphreys had a tough task against the extremely lively Gradel on the right wing for the hosts, while Lee and Nelson were kept busy by the threat of Vokes.
Lee-Barrett made a good save to keep out Jo Kuffour after the striker stole the ball from Lee and evaded a challenge from Nelson to fire in low at goal.
Gareth Stewart in the home goal made his first save of the game when David Foley picked up a Lee free kick to fire in with power from close range but the big stopper got down well to block the effort wide.
Minutes later and Stewart was making his last save of the game - after collecting a Willie Boland ball into the box, the Bournemouth keeper injured himself in the landing and was stretchered from the field. 18-year-old Ryan Pryce came on to replace him.
Lee-Barrett was still the busier of the two keepers in the closing minutes of the half and he made a good save to deny Josh Gowling with a bullet header.
With less than two minutes of the four added on remaining and things took a turn for the worse for Pools; Kuffour broke forward before rolling the ball through to Vokes and the big forward pushed through to slot home right-footed into the bottom right corner of Lee-Barrett's goal.
With the goal coming at a poor time for Pools, they left the field knowing they had a mountain to climb if they were to get anything from the game.
But Wilson's men did come out fighting in the second half and a good ball through from Foley found Craddock in space in the area but his low drive was held well by Pryce.
Bournemouth clearly had more goals on their agenda though and Sam Vokes went close once again when he bustled his way into space inside the before firing at target - a good tip over by Lee-Barrett denied him his hat-trick.
Ritchie Humphreys reacted well to throw himself full-stretch and intercept a dangerous ball in from the left wing s the hosts looked to add to their tally.
Danny Wilson added Andy Monkhouse, Michael Mackay and Joel Porter to his eleven throughout the second half and the trio added their weight to the attack as Pools searched for a lifeline back into the game.
Pools did enjoy more possession as the second half progressed but, with Bournemouth working hard to protect the lead, clear-cut chances proved few and far between.
A ball in from Humphreys on the left wing was snatched from the head of Sweeney by Pryce and a through ball by Sweeney just inched ahead of Barker as the striker tried to make a touch.
As Pools pushed men forward in numbers, a ball into the box by Michael Nelson caused problems and, just as Sweeney was about to get his shot in at goal, he was bundled to the ground but the referee waved away all appeals for a penalty and play continued.
Michael Nelson made an impressive double block at the other end to deny Bournemouth a third - the big defender reacted well to get down and keep Gradel's out and then did the same to deny Brett Pitman with the rebound.
As the final minutes counted down, Richard Barker saw a header go over the bar and Joel Porter saw his low poke held by Pryce.
But there was no way through for Pools as the game finished 2-0 to Bournemouth and Wilson's men will now go to Oldham Athletic on Tuesday night looking to bring to an end their winless record away from home.
Pools: Lee-Barrett, Antwi, Nelson, Lee, Humphreys, Sweeney, Liddle, Boland (Monkhouse 54), Foley (Porter 74), Craddock (Mackay 69), Barker
Subs: McCunnie, Robson
Bournemouth: Stewart (Pryce 40), Young, Gowling, Cooper, Vokes, Kuffour (Pitman 63), Hollands, Bartley, Gradel, Bradbury (Tessem 71), Cummings
Subs: Pearce, Partington
