Hartlepool United manager Ronnie Moore was left stunned by the way his players performed last night against an Accrington side that is mounting a genuine promotion challenge.

“I have not seen us play like that for a long time,” said Moore after his team were outclassed for long spells, conceding three goals before Rakish BIngham replied in the closing stages, which also featured a strong penalty appeal.

“I think it was a penalty,” Moore said after seeing Bingham go down inside the area in the 85th minute. “If he gives it, the score is 3-2 and maybe we are in the game. I think it was a trip and I don’t know how he didn’t see it.

“The ref said he didn’t have control of the ball, but Rakish had taken a great touch. “

However, even Moore accepted that it would have been an injustice if Accrington had not emerged with a victory. “We were second best - without a doubt.,” he said. “We have to perform better than that

“The second goal just before half-time killed us, but they are a good footballing side and will punish you if you come here and let them play. You can’t give anybody 45 minutes’ start like we did.”

Those opening 45 minutes effectively settled the outcome, with Accrington in front midway through the first-half as they wasted no time settling in again after more than two months away from their home ground.

The Crown Ground pitch had been frozen or waterlogged every time they tried to play a match at home since November 14 – one of the games postponed was against Pools.

But it was in excellent condition last night and suited their impressive pass-and-move style, which stretched Pools from the opening moments.

Moore side, including their latest loan signing Ellis Harrison from Bristol Rovers, were indebted to keeper Trevor Carson who made three excellent saves before he was beaten by Adam Buxton.

Carson, who had frustrated Derby - particularly Darren Bent - with several fine saves in Pools’ FA Cup exit earlier this month, reacted superbly in the 14th minute to claw away a shot from Matt Crooks, who had a brief loan spell at Pools last season.

Two minutes later, Shay McCartan gave a warning of what was to come as he sliced through the heart of the defence and could have shot himself, but unselfishly chose to set up Sean McConville.

Carson readjusted well to block his effort before dealing well with a header from Billy Kee in the 22nd minute.

Accrington already realised it would take something special to beat Carson and Buxton produced it a minute later with a 25-yard free-kick that speared into the top corner.

Deprived of possession for long periods, Pools rarely posed an attack threat before the interval apart from a 32nd minute header from loanee Harrison, who climbed well at a corner, but directed it against a post.

A post also deprived Accrington’s Matty Pearson of a goal from another corner in the 38th minute, but John Coleman’s team did stretch their lead in the final seconds of the half.

Again, Pools’ central defenders were exposed by the pace of McCartan as he took a pass from Crooks, accelerated between them and steered his shot inside the post.

Hartlepool could have no complaints about being two goals adrift at the break - and it could have been three within two minutes of the restart as a well-worked free-kick left Kee with a chance that Carson turned over the bar.

They did beat Carson again, though in the 58th minute and came from another splendid finish McCartan, who picked his spot as he curled the ball inside the post from the edge of the area.

Moore had seen enough. The manager made three substitutions in quick succession shortly after the hour and one of them, Bingham, scored a consolation goal in the 77th minute.

The striker finally found some space on the edge of the area and arrowed a shot inside the far post. It was the type of quality missing from the rest of a miserable 90 minutes for Hartlepool and the 58 supporters who followed them to Lancashire last night.