Boxing day heartbreak for Pools as Mansfield come back from two goals down to win 3-2.
A competitive start to the game saw both sides enjoying threatening spells with only two points separating the two sides heading into today.
The first big chance came after 11 minutes for the hosts. You guessed it, Rhys Oates with the opportunity. The corner ball came in and Oates’ glancing header was marginally wide.
Mansfield continued to put all the pressure on and should have been ahead after 22 minutes. A ball towards the backpost saw Bowery’s header cleared of the line by Gary Liddle.
Then just three minutes later, completely against the run of play, Pools were ahead! Daly found space on the left-hand and he cut the ball back for Molyneux to bury it in the bottom corner! A great team goal by Graeme Lee’s side.
Two yellow cards followed for Pools with Killip and Byrne going into the book.
Mansfield had one final chance at the end of the first half, Oates went in one on one, chipped the ball over Killip but it was wide of the mark.
It was the perfect start to the second half for Pools as on 50 minutes, Pools found themselves two goals ahead. The ball was pinballing around the Mansfield area until it came out on the edge to Featherstone who smashed home to make it 2-0.
It all went downhill from here for Pools. 55 minutes saw a glancing header from O’Toole pull one back for the hosts and lift the home support. Just 5 minutes later, a ball into the area was headed by Bowery and past Killip to draw the hosts level.
On 66 minutes, Mansfield completed the comeback. Maris crossed the ball from the left hand side and his cross went all the way through, past everyone and into the net to put the hosts ahead.
Pools thought they stole a point right at the last moment. A floated ball in was fired home by Holohan but the linesman deemed it offside. The first defeat under Graeme Lee as they move onto Tranmere on Wednesday.
Pools: Killip, Sterry (Ogle), Odusina, Liddle, Byrne, Ferguson, Featherstone, Shelton, Daly (Holohan), Molyneux, Cullen (Burey)
Subs: Mitchell, Ogle, Francis-Angol, Smith, Holohan, Cook, Burey