HARTLEPOOL UNITED old boy Matty Robson netted the winning goal at his former club as Carlisle United won at Hartlepool United.

The former Pools winger / left-back was given his Football League debut by Pools boss Neale Cooper in 2003 and left his old boss deflated with a 85th minute winner.

Pools dominanted the opening 45 minutes, and went in front five minutes before the break when James Poole latched onto Steve Howard’s flick to confidently finish.

They couldn’t find a second goal to finish off the visitors, but they should have levelled on 51 minutes. Jake Jervis produced one of the misses of the season. He went through on goal and rounded keeper Scott Flinders , but when faced with an empty net and an expectant visiting support, he put the ball in the stand.

Steve Howard, a constant source of problem for the visiting defenders, hit the bar on 73 minutes and two minutes later the scores were level as it all went wrong for Pools.

Robson’s free-kick was parried by Flinders and Danny Cadamarteri was there to net the rebound from close range.

Pools’ right-back Neil Austin was dismissed on 77 minutes, a second caution for a foul five minutes after his first yellow card.

In the build up to the sending-off, Pools’ defender Peter Hartley was laid out on the pitch, suffering from cramp which allowed the visitors to avoid being caught offside on a counter attack.

And, with the home back four still reorganising after losing two key players, Robson took advantage to score the winner on 85 minutes.

HARTLEPOOL : Flinders ; Austin , Collins, Hartley (Baldwin 78), Horwood; Franks (Lynch 66), Murray, Sweeney, Monkhouse; Howard, Poole (James 88). Subs: Humphreys, Walton, Holden, McHugh, James.

CARLISLE : Gillespie; Simek, Murphy (Livesey 90), Edwards, Chantler; McGovern (Symington 69), Thirlwell, Berrett, Robson; Jervis (Beck 58), Cadamarteri. Subs: Collin (gk), Livesey, Madden, Potts, Beck, O'Halloran.