Ten-man Pools were harshly knocked out of the FA Cup with Budweiser by Stevenage in a lively clash at The Vic this afternoon.
Mick Wadsworth's men played the majority of the game with ten men after losing Scott Flinders early in the game and were very unlucky not to get more out of this game.
After a bright start to the game, Pools were dealt a very early and controversial blow.
Wadsworth's side had shown some very positive early signs but with less than ten minutes on the clock, referee Mr Haywood made a game-changing decision.
As Stevenage forward Chris Beardsley forced his way into the box, he turned to go round outstretched keeper Scott Flinders only to go to ground. Whether or not the keeper made contact with the striker will be left to video replays but the referee made the call and awarded the penalty kick.
To add insult to injury for Pools, Haywood also saw fit to show Scott Flinders a red card, reducing Pools to ten men with the game barely underway.
Despite strong protests from Flinders, the big keeper left the pitch to be replaced by Andy Rafferty between the sticks - Evan Horwood the one to make way as Pools regrouped.
Rafferty's first action was to face Scott Laird from the penalty spot and, despite going the right way, Laird tucked his effort tight into the left corner of Rafferty's net to make it 1-0.
The set-back gave Pools a real uphill task ahead and a fight if they were to see their name in the draw for the Second Round of the competition.
Stevenage made the most of the extra man and put pressure on the Pools back line, making them work extremely hard to keep things close.
Lawrie Wilson was a big threat for the hosts, creating space down the right and getting some dangerous crosses into the box.
Pools struggled to create anything to really test the visiting keeper in a frustrating first half, with the officials making no friends amongst the home fans this afternoon.
A shot came in from Robin Shroot on the edge of the box which was watched wide by Rafferty, while a Wilson cross was met in the air by Beardsley in the area but he sent his header high over the bar.
Michael Borthwick was next to test Pools but his long-range strike also went wide of target, and just minutes later Shroot went past Wright inside the box and went crashing to the ground. Thankfully this time, the official saw no contact and play continued.
Pools had their best chance of the half on 39 minutes when a freekick was lifted in from the right by Nobby Solano for Andy Monkhouse to meet in the air but his powerful header went just over the bar.
Rafferty was back in action for Pools before half time as he got down well to save a strike from Wilson as the teams left the field with the visitors holding on to their one-goal lead.
Wadsworth's men came out with the bit between their teeth in the second half and looked determined to fight for everything in the second half.
Andy Rafferty made a good block from Reid early in the half before Pools had a chance of their own; good work by Antony Sweeney forced a corner. Solano lifted the corner in from the left and Peter Hartley, who was a rock at the back today, met it at the far post - unfortunately his header went just wide of target and Pools had to start again in their search for an equaliser.
Mick Wadsworth's men maintained their positive approach to the game, putting some decent pressure on Stevenage. Andy Monkhouse was more involved after the break, battling hard to create something for Pools.
Sub Nathan Luscombe got on the end of a Humphreys cross to send a diving header at goal but his effort went just wide of the far post.
Pools were getting the ball down and enjoying more possession and were getting ever closer to a goal - James Poole turned to square for Hartley who lifted the ball on for Monkhouse but his header found only the arms of Chris Day in the Stevenage goal.
Mick Wadsworth's men were asking all of the questions in the second half and really did deserve something out of this game.
And Pools really couldn't have gone close than they did in the 81st minute when a long ball forward from Hartley was brought down neatly by Boyd for Monkhouse who unleashed a lovely volleyed effort only to see it go over the keeper and crash against the bar and come back into play.
Unfortunately this was to be Pools' last real effort on goal as Stevenage held on for the win despite Wadsworth's men throwing everything forward in the closing minutes.
And so, disappointingly,Pools will play no further part in this season's FA Cup competition and will pick up their League One campaign next Saturday at Scunthorpe United.
Booked: Pools - Hartley (16), Liddle (26); Stevenage: Roberts (76) Harrison (90)
Sent Off: Flinders (8)
Att: 2744 (132 Stevenage)
Pools: Flinders, Austin, Wright, Hartley, Humphreys (Boyd 78), Solano (Luscombe 60), Liddle, Sweeney, Horwood (Rafferty 10) , Monkhouse, Poole
Subs Not Used: Mellish, Haslam, Baldwin, Richards
Stevenage: Day, Wilson, Laird, Ashton, Reid (Harrison 62), Roberts, Beardsley (Byrom 69), Mousinho (Long 81), Bostwick, Henry, Shroot
Sub Not Used: Julian, Edwards, Cowan
