WHEN Hartlepool United won at Exeter last season they were in a state of confusion, when they beat them at Victoria Park at the end of the campaign they were delirious. In losing to the same opposition this time they simply bewildered.

Sam Collins led Pools to victory at St James Park after Colin Cooper quit – 12 games in it was only their third win. Ronnie Moore’s triumph at Victoria Park secured the Great Escape. Defeat this time leaves Pools with three wins and four defeats in League Two.

It was disappointing enough for Pools that they didn’t win this one, let alone lose in the manner they did.

Some 70 seconds into three minutes of added on time, after wasting a second-half penalty themselves, Pools conceded the only goal.

And, while recent defeats to Stevenage, Carlisle and Wycombe have been a mixture of frustration and disappointment, in no way did they deserve to lose this one.

Moore was critical of his back four of late, but there was no hard words this time. Against a team who do play football rather than knock forward the ale-house balls Moore often feels are a problem for his side, they were in charge for long periods.

If they weren’t going to win the game, then they shouldn’t have lost it. Same story two weeks earlier against Carlisle.

But in injury time, the Grecians worked an opening in the area. Clinton Morrison, who would have signed for Pools last season if Cooper hadn’t quit, fed Christian Riberio and the right back knocked a left-footed shot across the penalty area and into the net.

Some 72 travelling fans stood aghast behind the goal. The journey home on Saturday evening was arduous enough without that to comprehend.

“We were against a very organised and very well-drilled Hartlepool – but it’s a long time to hold yourselves for 90-95 minutes. They did a great job, but we kept at it,’’ reflected home boss Paul Tisdale, his verdict as sharp as his touchline dress sense.

The best chance Pools had came from 12 yards. Billy Paynter, the regular penalty taker was at home, resting a hamstring strain.

If he was playing his spot kick would surely have been struck better than Rakish Bingham’s. Nicky Featherstone was felled in the area, and Bingham, who took one successfully in the recent shoot-out defeat to Sheffield United, grabbed the ball straight away.

His penalty was weak and at a height which was easy for the keeper to dive left and save.

Moore admitted: “I actually missed the penalty as my back was turned – but I’m told it wasn’t the best penalty. I’ve said to them, if you are taking them, hands up - smack them, blast them, do the right thing.

“You get a free shot at goal from 12 yards, miss it and end up losing the game. We are losing games without playing badly – we cannot seem to see games out.’’

Each of the four defeats could just as easily have been wins. The three wins from the opening three games could have been defeats.

There’s no need to panic and this team will settle down and improve over the season.

“I’ve been on a run like this before and it will turn – you have to make it turn,’’ added Moore. “They cannot give any more than this. We will play a lot worse than this and win, no doubt.

“But the sooner it comes the better as it gives us a lift and confidence and we don’t want to be dragged where we don’t want to be.

“But I’ve said all along you can win five games in a row as easy as you can lose them. There’s nothing in the division – even the teams with money can do it.

“It’s about being organised and believing in what we do. It’s not back to the drawing board, but it’s about turning it around because we will.’’

The back four was much improved and Bradley Halliday, on loan from Middlesbrough, was very impressive at right-back.

He linked up well with Rhys Oates, who was positive and inventive. Bingham was a bit hesitant at times and, when presented with a chance from a slack defensive pass, he stuttered when he should have instinctively turned to goal.

Bingham pushed a low first-half finish wide of the far post, while Oates somehow turned over from close range in the second half.

“To actually go home with nothing, we can’t feel sorry for ourselves,’’ said Moore. “We are a youngish side, we missed Billy a bit as his authority up there would have helped but to get a free shot from 12 yards and miss it isn’t right.

“We have to learn to see the game out, we had opportunities attacking with minutes to go. We were trying to win it, but we got caught out trying to win it.’’