HARTLEPOOL UNITED suffered their first reverse of the season, their 100 per record going after five games as they lost at Stevenage.

Pools never got going at Broadhall Way as home boss Teddy Sheringham won for the first time.

Goals from Fraser Franks and Brett Williams, secured a first win of the season for the former England man.

But it was 75 minutes before Ronnie Moore’s side showed any ambition or purpose going forward.

Only four minutes in and Charlie Lee scuffed a shot wide from close range after being played in by Rohell Gordon.

Pools worked an opening on the edge of the area, but Michael Woods allowed the ball to run through to keeper Chris Day.

Rakish Bingham  tried a snapshot on the turn, but fired it straight into the hands of Day from ten yards.

The lively Dipo Akinyemi had a shot deflected wide, before his trickery created a real opening from the flank.

He crossed from the left and his curling ball evaded the advancing Lee six yards out.

But the home side took the lead on 45 minutes. A corner from the left by Steven  Schumacher curled into the six-yard area where Fraser Franks was unmarked to head in from close range.

It took Pools until the 75th minute before they got going. Substitute Rhys Oates got in on goal, but his touch was heavy and Mark Hughes cleared off the line.

Then Bingham sliced a shot into the side netting and Ebby Nelson-Addy had a goalbound shot saved.

But Sheringham’s side won it with two minutes to go thanks to Williams’ neat finish.

STEVENAGE: Day; Franks, Hughes, Wells, Ogilvie; Gorman, Schumacher, Lee (Hitchcock 82), Gordon (Whelpdale 62); Williams, Akinyemi (Pett 70). Subs: Kettings, Okimo, Casey, Conlon.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Bartlett; Duckworth, Bates (Boyce 17), Harrison, Carroll; Magnay, Woods (Nelson-Addy 71), Feathertsone; Bingham, Paynter, Fenwick (Oates 60). Subs: Denton (gk), Walker, Jones, Smith.