Scunthorpe United 4-1 Hartlepool United

Hartlepool United suffered a fourth consecutive defeat after a 4-1 loss to Scunthorpe United at the Attis Arena in the Enterprise National League.

Despite Will Harris putting Pools ahead, goals from Pat Jones and Oliver Norwood saw the Iron turn the game around before half-time, with Kyle Hurst and substitute Hugh Parker adding further goals after the break to secure victory for the hosts.

Interim managers Gary Liddle and Adam Clayton made three changes to the Pools starting XI, with captain Jack Hunter returning alongside Neo Eccleston and striker Chris Popov.

Pools came agonisingly close to opening the scoring on 15 minutes when Jack Nolan and Popov combined well to find Harris, whose effort rolled inches wide of Maison Campbell’s far post.

The visitors continued to apply pressure and should have taken the lead moments later when Harris picked out an unmarked Eccleston, but his effort was denied by Campbell.

Harris deservedly broke the deadlock on the 27th minute, latching onto Cole Deeming’s through ball before calmly picking out the bottom corner from inside the area.

However, Pools’ lead lasted just three minutes as Norwood found Jones inside the area, with the midfielder making no mistake from 10 yards as he fired beyond Campbell.

On the stroke of half-time, Norwood was in the thick of the action again as his flicked header at the near post put the hosts ahead.

Just three minutes after the restart, Norwood squared the ball to Hurst inside the box, with the midfielder making no mistake as he slotted his effort past Fisher.

The hosts added a fourth in the 73rd minute when substitute Parker rose highest inside the area to meet Dan Batty’s free-kick and direct his header into the far corner.

Pools return to Enterprise National League action on Tuesday evening when they welcome Harrogate Town to Victoria Park.

HUFC XI: Fisher, Eccleston, Benn (John 57’), McNally, Hunter (C), Ilunga (Bondo 65’), Miley, Deeming (Thornton 73’), Nolan, Harris (Hugill 73’), Popov (Charman 57’)

Subs not used: Smith, Sheron.