Ex-Hartlepool United striker Mike Fondop came back to haunt his former club when he headed in Oldham Athletic’s winner in a 2-1 victory at Boundary Park.
Mani Dieseruvwe gave Pools a barely-deserved 39th-minute lead, but the celebrations had only just subsided when Charlie Raglan headed in an immediate leveller withmFondop getting the decisive goal in the 63rd minute.
Pools had their moments, with Matthew Hudson making three vital saves, but defeat in Lancashire brought an end to the side’s six-match unbeaten run.
Head coach Anthony Limbrick had one enforced change with Luke Charman replacing the suspended Louis Stephenson down the right.
The opening stages were frenetic in the pouring rain with neither side able to string a pass together.
Oldham had the better of the play with Tom Conlon skidding a shot wide of Adam Smith’s left post from outside the box before Vimal Yoganathan fired high over the bar after being teed up by Mike Fondop.
Conlon was wide with a free-header on 21 minutes from Jake Casprice’s cross but Pools, finally, had a first attempt in the 32nd minute when Tom Parkes headed over from a David Ferguson free-kick.
It was a break from constant Oldham pressure with Kian Harratt fluffing an easy chance, seconds after Charman had made a terrific defensive block.
A goal was coming but when it did it went the way of the sky blues against the run of play in the 39th minute.
Jamie Miley found Reyes Cleary down the left with the loan winger putting in a cross which Gary Madine should have buried, only for Matthew Hudson to make the save. Pools kept the ball alive through Charman and his deflected cross was put away by Dieseruvwe from a couple of yards.
Alas, the away lead lasted barely a minute. Pools conceded a corner from the re-start with Raglan heading in from Conlon’s flag-kick from the right.
Pools were forced into a change at the start of the second half with Parkes, injured by a challenge by Fondop late in the first period, coming off with club captain Luke Waterfall coming on.
The visitors had the first effort after the break when Miley’s shot from distance was saved low by Hudson but, sadly, Madine was offside when he picked up the rebound.
Fondop came close to giving the Latics the lead on the hour when he hit the post from a free-kick, though it would not have counted as the flag was up for offside.
But Fondue’s moment was not long in coming.
Oldham had played some neat passes down the left and when the ball was swung over, Fondop nodded in his 17th goal of the season.
Limbrick made a triple change on 73 minutes as Sam Folarin, Nicky Featherstone and Adam Campbell came on for Charman, Miley and Madine.
Pools plugged away and two minutes from time, a promising move ended with a flicked Featherstone header saved by Hudson.
In stoppage time, Smith went forward for a free-kick and while the keeper got his head top the ball, it went harmlessly out for a goal-kick.
Pools: Smith; Sass-Davies, Parkes (Waterfall 46), Ferguson; Charman (Folarion 73), Miley (Featherstone 73), Sheron, Cleary; Grey; Madine (Campbell 73), Dieseruvwe
Subs (not used): Ombang, Darcy, Foreman
