Hartlepool United fell to a 1-0 defeat against play-off rivals FC Halifax Town at the Prestige Group Stadium in the Enterprise National League.
Will Harris’ goal late in the second period was enough to seal the three points for the Shaymen in a frustrating contest for Pools.
Nicky Featherstone made two changes following Tuesday night’s defeat at the hands of Sutton United, as Jack Hunter and Charlie Caton replaced Jamie Miley and Alex Reid in the starting lineup.
Pools had an opportunity to take the lead six minutes in when Campbell intercepted a loose Halifax pass-back, but the midfielder couldn’t get enough purchase on his touch to round Sam Johnson, who smothered the ball.
After half chances for both sides – Nick Hayes denying Jay Turner-Cooke from distance and Hunter’s drilled, close-range effort troubling Johnson — the hosts threatened once more on 34 minutes. Tyrese Sinclair’s swerving free-kick rattled the crossbar, with Jay Benn’s strike on the follow-up rising over the bar.
Following a quiet start to the second half, the match was sprung into life in the 76th minute as Benn produced a last-ditch clearance on the goal-line to thwart Harris’ chipped attempt, before Sinclair threaded through Reid minutes later, whose low shot was comfortable for Johnson.
But the Shaymen took the lead on 82 minutes when Harris picked up the ball in the hosts’ half and fired home from range into the bottom-left corner.
As the game headed to injury time, though, Pools probed – Reid’s strike was blocked following neat combination play from Miley and Matty Daly, while Sinclair’s long-range effort towards the top-left corner was stopped by Johnson only a minute later.
Deep into added time, the referee waved away appeals that Daly was bundled down in the box, instead giving a free-kick at the edge of the penalty area. Miley stepped up to take the set-piece, seeing his strike curl narrowly over the bar.
Tensions boiled over in discussions with the match officials following the game, which resulted in a red card for Featherstone.
