HARTLEPOOL UNITED suffered a familiar defeat at home to Stevenage, as they made their task of staying in the Football League all the more harder.

Tuesday’s win over Northampton offered plenty of encouragement, but that hope was dismantled in 90 disappointing minutes at Victoria Park.

Pools didn’t offer enough up top during the opening half, and, despite a bright start when they pressed forward with the confidence from Tuesday.

But they fell behind when, on 39 minutes, a long crossfield ball from the right was misjudged by Michael Duckworth and David Martin stood behind him to collect possession and finish low from ten yards.

Marlon Harewood was taken off at half-time, and his replacement Scott Fenwick only took four minutes to level. He took the ball in the area, turned his man and fired low into the net.

But Pools soon trailed, from a goal of their own doing. Neil Austin cleared a corner only as far as the taker, and Martin’s cross picked out Ben Kennedy who was unmarked to head in.

The goal knocked Pools, their confidence clearly hit.

And the visitors made it three on 65 minutes. Kennedy broke away and, while Scott Flinders was off his line to stop the shot, the ball looped high into the net despite the best efforts of David Mirfin.

Pools were well beaten in the end and the chance to reduce the gap at the foot of the table was missed and they are now six points adrift at the bottom, seven points from safety.