Nicky Featherstone’s first game as interim manager ended in a 3-1 defeat at the Prestige Group Stadium as Hartlepool United exited the FA Cup to Gainsborough Trinity
First-half strikes from Sisa Tuntulwana and Fraser Preston gave Trinity an early advantage, before Preston found his second with a long-range free kick to seal victory for the visitors.
Luke Charman snatched a late consolation for Pools, but it was too little too late.
Featherstone made four changes to the side that drew 1-1 in the first fixture of the tie, including Kian Foreman, who made his first full start for the Club.
Jack Hunter also came into the side after losing Tom Parkes and Maxim Kouogun at the weekend to injury.
Pools made a promising start and almost found an opener, when Charman darted behind the defence and crossed a low ball to Danny Johnson, whose strike was deflected wide.
However, Trinity took the lead after 17 minutes, when Tuntulwana completed a fantastic solo run and fired past the reach of George Evans from 20 yards out.
Just six minutes later, Tuntulwana almost had his second, when a long ball from David Robson caused confusion at the back and left Tuntulwana one-on-one with Evans, but the striker failed to hit the target.
On the half-hour mark, Pools almost found the leveller, after a brilliant ball from Jay Benn caused mayhem in the box, finding its way to Charman whose shot was deflected wide.
Five minutes before halftime, Trinity found their second when Preston cut inside and curled a ball past Evans into the top left corner.
Just three minutes after the break, Trinity added a third and Preston a second, after his long-range free kick fired past Evans.
In the dying stages of the game, Pools found a constellation when a long ball over the top from Bes Topallaj found Charman’s run behind the defence as he slotted home past David Robson.
Hartlepool return to action on Saturday in the Enterprise National League away at Sutton United.
Pools: Evans, Benn, Johnson (Francis 49’), Charman, Sheron, Hunter, Miley (Ferguson 75′), Topallaj, Daly (Oliver 60′), Foreman, Walker (Campbell 49’)
Unused Subs: Smith, Dacosta Gonzalez
Goals: Charman (90’)
Attendance: 1267