Hartlepool United suffered their second consecutive defeat on the road in the Enterprise National League at the hands of a 1-0 loss to Aldershot Town at the EBB Stadium

Cameron Hargreaves’ deflected shot in the first half was the difference between the two sides as Pools continue for their first win in six games.

Added feist to the game came from Besart Topallaj’s controversial yellow card after 25 minutes and Shots manager Tommy Widdrington’s dismissal in stoppage time.

Pools had the better chances in the opening stages, as Topallaj’s header required a save from Shots goalkeeper Marcus Dewhurst.

Despite early pressure from Pools, Aldershot opened the scoring courtesy of Hargreaves on 20 minutes as his curling shot took a deflection and beat Harvey Cartwright in the Pools goal.

Topallaj and Dewhurst would collide after 25 minutes, which sparked some reaction from Shot players that Topallaj retaliated with a push, resulting in a yellow card for the Kosovan despite appeals for a red from those in red and blue.

The vast majority of chances for the remainder of the first half went the way of Pools, but they were unable to convert them.

Luke Charman had a handful of shots denied by an outstretched Dewhurst after the restart.

Pools’ best chance came in the 54th minute as Alex Reid was fed through one-on-one with Dewhurst but was unable to round the Shots number one.

After replacing the injured Tom Parkes at half-time, Jermaine Francis was forced off with an injury of his own with seven minutes to go.

The most notable moment of the eight additional minutes at the end of the second half came when Shots manager Widdrington was shown a red card for parrying the ball away from his dugout when it was supposedly still in play.

Pools: Cartwright, John, Parkes © (Francis 45’, Johnson 83’), Kouogun, Charman, Sheron, Miley (Benn 75’), Reid (Oliver 86’), Topallaj, Daly, Walker

Unused subs: Smith, Ferguson, Hunter

Away attendance: 198