A spirited performance from Pools saw them lose out 3-1 to league leaders Leeds United at Elland Road this afternoon, with the hosts proving just too strong for Chris Turner's men.

But the scoreline does not tell the full story as the referee, Mr Ilderton, made several controversial decisions, including one in the build-up to each of Leeds' three goals.

Leeds United came storming into the game from kick off, throwing everything at Pools in the opening five minutes.

Neil Austin, back in the team after recovering from his hamstring injury put in a brilliantly brave block in the first minute of play to deflect a Robert Snodgrass effort wide of target when an early goal looked on the cards.

And the hosts continued with their blistering start, forcing Pools to defend in numbers; Gary Liddle put in two important interceptions in the area to keep the hosts at bay.

Pools weathered the early storm well and began to add their own input into the game; Peter Hartley threw the ball long for Armann Bjornsson who nodded it down into the path of strike partner Boyd - he then dinked into the area before firing off a snapshot effort at goal which pulled the first save of the game out of Casper Ankergren.

The hosts continued to dominate, with Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio the biggest threats, but Pools quietly upped their own possession to create openings at the other end.

And, with 25 minutes on the clock, Turner's men gave the travelling army of fans something to really shout about as they took the lead through Bjornsson.

A well-worked corner in from Ritchie Humphreys on the right sailed to the far post, where it was flicked on by Peter Hartley for Pools' big Icelandic striker to fire a powerful header past Ankergren and into the back of the net.

The goal was largely against the early run of play but it gave Pools further confidence to push on and challenge the hosts.

Adam Boyd then tried his luck on goal with a trademark move; Hartley recovered to push the ball on for Humphreys who in turn fed Boyd and the tricky striker carved out just the space he needed to send a curling effort at goal. The ball went just wide of Ankergren's right post though, much to the obvious disappointment of the Pools striker.

Scott Flinders was brave to deny an equaliser just after the half hour mark; a shot from the lively Snodgrass was blocked by the big stopper only for it to spill into the path of the arriving Beckford and Becchio but once again Flinders was brave as he threw himself into the challenge to snatch possession back.

As the game became more even for a spell, Leon McSweeney tried a cheeky effort on goal when he received possession on the edge of the area - the winger went for precision over power as he lifted an effort up at goal on the volley but the ball landed just on the roof of the net.

The hosts drew level with 38 minutes on the clock in controversial circumstances; after challenging with Hughes on the left wing, the solid Neil Austin was adjudged to have handled the ball. While any contact was clearly not intentional, the official reacted quickly along with the calls of the large home crowd and awarded the freekick.

The kick, which was in a dangerous area, parallel to the edge of the area was then whipped into the area where it fell to the edge of the box for Snodgrass to drive in low on goal, his effort taking a late deflection off Beckford and sailing past Flinders who was wrong-footed by the deflection.

With Pools having continued to more than hold their own, much to the annoyance of the home fans, Leeds grabbed a second on the stroke of half time - again in controversial circumstances.

The move began with Armann Bjornsson ruled to have fouled deep inside the final third - a decision which was harsh at best. The ball was then lifted high upfield where Becchio seemed to catch the ball with both hands before playing it forward into the area.

Becchio then ran forward into the area to meet the ball and force it over the line, with a deflection off Gary Liddle helping it home.

Two very harsh decisions from the referee, Mr Ilderton, had cost Pools the lead in the first half but there were forty-five minutes to come and Turner's men looked in fighting mood.

And Pools did come out brightly in the second half - albeit without the services of Gary Liddle who was forced off through injury.

There was a great chance for Adam Boyd to score when he fired in on the volley from just inside the box but his effort skimmed just over the crossbar.

At the other end, Leeds reminded Pools that there was a constant threat for them when Jermaine Beckford smacked an effort goalwards which crashed against the crossbar and bounced back into play.

Pools though, continued to plug away and showed no signs of intimidation despite the majority of the 30,000 crowd finding their voice in this second half to support the hosts.

The referee then made it a hat-trick in effect - Antony Sweeney was blatantly fouled by Patrick Kisnorbo deep inside the final third but the official again showed no interest. Leon McSweeney then intercepted to concede a freekick, as much out of frustration at the referee's decision as anything and again, the kick led to the third goal for Leeds.

The ball was lifted forward into the other half where Becchio picked it up, fed it through for Beckford and he slid a low ball underneath the out-rushing Flinders to make it 3-1.

While Pools maintained their own possession and dealt with anything else Leeds had to deal with in the closing minutes, there was little to really test either keeper.

Neil Austin put in a top performance this afternoon in dealing with any threat Leeds had to offer down their left, while Sam Collins was on the end of a few physical challenges from both Beckford and Becchio but more than held his own.

While Pools will admit their own failings after this afternoon's game, the major decisions made by the referee today had a massive impact on proceedings.

Pools: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Liddle (Clark 46), Hartley, Sweeney, Humphreys (Fredriksen 74), Jones, McSweeney (Larkin 74), Boyd, Bjornsson
Subs Not Used: Cook, Cherel, Greulich, Rowell

Leeds United: Ankergren, Kisnorbo, Doyle (Johnson 72), Naylor (Gradel 81), Kilkenny, Beckford, Becchio (Kandol 80), Howson, Hughes, Snodgrass, Bromby
Subs Not Used: Martin, Grella, Vokes, Michalik