Hartlepool United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Sutton United at the Prestige Group Stadium in the Enterprise National League.
Osman Foyo’s finish opened the scoring for Sutton midway into the second period, before Kai Jennings doubled the lead on the brink of injury time.
Nicky Featherstone made one change from last week’s 3-1 home victory against Carlise United, as Adam Campbell replaced Jack Hunter in the starting lineup.
Following a quiet opening to the match, a first real opportunity fell Pools’ way on 22 minutes – after latching onto a pinpoint ball from Nathan Sheron, Tyrese Sinclair curled his effort wide of the top-right corner.
Sutton threatened around the half-hour mark when Brandon Njoku rounded Nick Hayes inside the box, calling Cameron John into action with a last-ditch block to stop the forward’s close-range effort.
Moments before the break, Alex Reid’s neat through ball released Sinclair in on goal, who drove centrally but delayed his attempt at Jack Sims – allowing Junior Eccleston to thwart the chance.
Pools started the second period positively and could have had the opener only two minutes into the half. Jamie Miley’s set-piece was nodded on by Tom Parkes into the path of Alex Reid, with the striker’s effort towards the near corner hitting the post.
As the half progressed, the hosts continued to probe – Matty Daly seeing two shots inside the box blocked – but were dealt a significant blow when Sutton took the lead in the 63rd minute. From Jennings’ inswinging delivery, Foyo guided his volley at the back post home into the left corner.
Shortly after, Lewis Simper slipped through Njoku whose strike looped just over the bar, while Gavan Holohan’s powerful strike drifted wide five minutes later.
On 90 minutes, the U’s advantage was doubled – Jennings picked the ball up inside Pools’ half, firing home into the top-left corner from distance.
Pools: Hayes, Benn, John, Parkes ©, Kouogun, Campbell, Sheron, Miley, Reid, Daly, Sinclair
Unused subs: Smith, Hunter
Attendance: 3574
