Hartlepool United tasted defeat at home for the first time this season as Woking ran out 2-0 winners at the Suit Direct Stadium. Ricky Korboa’s brace gave the Cards the victory.
Woking started the game on the front foot, with a spate of fouls putting pressure on Jameson’s goal. A long ball found Amond, but his header was wide, and a minute later Bradshaw struck a long drive that Jameson held well.
A clash of heads between Wallace and Lacey saw the latter’s afternoon end prematurely, with Brady Paterson brought on to replace him.
Pools’ first shot on target came in the 30th minute, with Seaman’s low strike held by the keeper at the near post. Seconds later, Dieseruvwe almost got in behind after a wicked cross from Finney that Jaaskelainen held well.
In the 33rd minute, Pools should have been ahead. When Dieseruvwe’s shot came back off the post, the ball fell to Grey who managed to scoop a shot over the bar under pressure from two defenders.
Pools continued to apply the pressure, with Seaman’s cross narrowly turned behind by Cuthbert at the front post. A Ferguson free kick grazed the far post a few minutes later, travelling through a host of bodies before going behind.
After the break, Woking took the lead after slack defending. Korboa got the wrong side of Ferguson and his deflected strike skewed beyond Jameson. Straight up the other end, Pools had a chance from a corner, but Dieseruvwe’s shot was charged down and Jaaskelainen collected low to his left.
But, a minute later Korboa and Woking had two. A low shot from the edge of the box looked tame, but it wrong footed Jameson and trickled over the line. At the other end, Pools had a chance through Seaman, but his half-volley flew high above the crossbar.
Umerah replaced Grey just before the half-hour mark, and his cross-shot had the keeper scrambling for a minute before it went behind. Seaman had a chance shortly afterwards, but Jaaskelainen held at the second attempt.
Dieseruvwe and Finney both had shouts for penalties waved away by the referee, with Pools applying pressure to Woking’s goal in the final 20 minutes. Paterson saw a good low cross turned behind in the 78th minute, with the resulting corner cleared before Dieseruvwe could pull the trigger.
Osazee Aghatise came on for his debut with a few minutes to go, but he had little chance to make a meaningful impact. Pools now turn their attention to Tuesday night’s trip to Altrincham, looking to get their season back on track.
Pools XI: Jameson; Seaman, Hendrie, Onariase, Lacey (Paterson 20), Ferguson; Wallace, Crawford, Finney (Aghatise 89); Grey (Umerah 57), Dieseruvwe
Subs: Dixon, Wreh
Attendance: 4,214 (120 Away)