HARTLEPOOL UNITED sit ten points from League Two safety, following their 16th defeat of the season. 

 

While Wycome returned to the top, Pools - with a far inferior goal difference to their relegation rivals - are starting at relegation.

Fred Onyedinma scored the only goal, and after his 37th minute crisp finish it appeared it was always going to be enough.

Onyedinma had a chance on 12 minutes, but lost his footing on the edge of the area as he shaped to shoot.

The winner came from a swift counter-attack. Pools’ right back Michael Duckworth lost the ball in the home penalty area, but the Chairboys broke and when Onyedinma collected the ball on the right side of the box, he beat goalkeeper Scott Flinders at his near post.

It was almost a quick two, but Flinders parried from a Peter Murphy shot.

The Chairboys were always a threat, and went close through Murphy, Aaron Pierre and Alfie Mawson.

But Pools went close to an 87th minute leveller, defender Dan Jones heading against a post, seconds before substitute Lewis Hawkins was red carded, collecting his second booking in a matter of minutes. 

It was an improved display from Pools, with Scott Harrison, back on loan from Sunderland, solid at the back and their other two loan signings Bingham and Tshibola lively.  

WYCOMBE: Ingram; Jombati, Mawson, Pierre, Jacobson; Scowen, Wood, Murphy; Holloway (Craig 90), Hayes, Onyedinma. Subs: Richardson (gk), Lewis, Bloomfield, Craig, Fletcher, Rowe.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Flinders; Duckworth, Jones, Harrison, Austin; Franks (Hawkins 73), Featherstone (Fenwick 83), Bates, Tshibola, Compton; Bingham. Subs: Maxted (gk), Holden, Walker, Richards, Green.