WOEFUL Hartlepool United capitulated to a 6-1 thrashing at Stevenage.

A week after being thumped 5-1 at Grimsby, the home side managed to go one better themselves as Pools – second-half especially – produced one of their most inept displays in years.

Yet Pools – who have yet to beat Boro now in ten attempts– took the lead .

Four minutes in and Jordan Richards cross wasn’t dealt with and Nathan Thomas knocked in.

Pools then controlled the next ten minutes as they passed the ball around with purpose. Little did they know what was to follow.

On 27 minutes, Boro nicked possession and a low Ronnie Henry cross was turned in by Tom Pett from close range.

Debutant Tyler Walker curled wide, before he scored a lovely second. A deep corner wasn’t dealt with and with his back to goal the Nottingham Forest loanee took off with his back to goal to volley in.

A high corner on 53 minutes was turned in by Dean Wells at the second attempt. Four minutes later came the fourth, from a break down the left side Boro cut through Pools and Walker rolled in his second.

Number five arrived from the spot, Tonge drilling in after being manhandled by Carl Magnay in the area.

Walker should have had a hat-trick, but rolled his shot into keeper Adam Bartlett.

And the sixth came on 77 minutes, Bartlett raced off his line but missed out to substitute Henry Cowans who headed into an empty net.