Woeful Pools fall to defeat

Pools, on the back of last weekend’s home defeat to Crawley, were rolled over easily and conceded two sloppy goals.

The Dons missed a second-half penalty, and only Pools’ goalkeeper Trevor Carson prevented a much heavier defeat.

Pool offered nothing in attack for most of the game and the first-half display was desperate.

They trailed on 18 minutes when a free-kick from Callum Kennedy, deep on the touchline some 45 yards from goal, sailed into the penalty area and bounced high off the turf into the top corner of the net.

Pools’ only shot on goal came on 27 minutes, when from a quick break Michael Woods fired at keeper Ben Wilson, who wasn’t troubled by the shot.

And it was two on 29 minutes.

Centre-half Magnus Okuonghae, who soon hobbled off with a foot injury, made a weak defensive header which was picked up by Lyle Taylor and, with the defenders watching, volleyed in from an angle.

Matthew Bates, who started at centre-half, took a whack to the face and Carson saved well from Taylor.

The keeper then made a fine save to deny Jake Reeves as he moved forward through midfield and fired at goal.

The Dons were awarded a soft penalty on 73 minutes, Kudos Oyenuga harshly ruled to have fouled Taylor.

The penalty from Taylor stuck Carson’s right hand post and the follow up was superbly saved. From the resulting corner, Ade Akinfenwa headed in at the far post, but the goal was ruled out for a push.

Pools’ came closest to scoring when home defender Paul Robinson headed a cross towards his own goal and wide, while Oyenuga volleyed over.

AFC WIMBLEDON: Wilson; Fuller, Robinson, Osborne, Meades; Francomb, Reeves (Toonga 90), Bulman, Kennedy; Taylor (Elliott 83), Azzez (Akinfenwa 60). Subs: McDonnell (gk), Sweeney, Gallagher, Kaja.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Carson; Duckworth, Bates, Okuonghae (Oyenuga 36), Jones; Oates, Featherstone, Woods, Carroll; Paynter (Banton 86), Bingham (Fenwick 67). Subs: Bartlett (gk), Walker, Nelson-Addy, Smith.

Referee: Lee Collins (Woking)