SATURDAY entertainment: Tap, tap, tap, backwards, sideways, tap, backwards, forward, backwards, tap, tap tap.

Strictly Come Dancing has ended on BBC1 but the movement and principles are alive and kicking at The Northern Gas and Power Stadium.

Hartlepool United are as graceful as they come in League Two, pleasing on the eye, moving the ball around with style. There’s options galore when someone has possession.

When it comes to breaking through, being brave in possession, wanting to get in behind defenders and shooting at goal it’s a different story.

Pools fell to another home defeat on Saturday, Grimsby the latest to leave with a victory. They didn’t deserve to lose. Another team who weren’t anything special, didn’t really test Pools themselves but arrived with a game plan carried out to the letter to secure victory.

“It was hard fought, a different type of way to win a football match,’’ reflected Mariners’ boss Marcus Bignot. “It was backs to the wall and we’ve said it was ugly and sometimes you have go with an ugly one.

“They dominated possession, but we had an organisation and structure.’’

It’s a story which has been all too familiar for Pools this season. Without the drive and pace of Nathan Thomas, Pools can be a bit too predictable.

He could be back shortly and has been given the OK to step up his training this week.

As was the case against Cambridge when they lost 5-0 before Christmas, Pools were too weak in midfield, the inability to tackle and put a firm foot in standing out.

They played nice football, moving the ball around well but without making much headway.

Boss Craig Hignett spoke after the draw at Accrington last week of a willingness to adapt and play a more direct game when needed. They could have done with doing it on Saturday.

As the Mariners lined up in numbers around their penalty area, Pools tried to forage an opening. They always nearly got there, almost getting in, but were let down by their final pass.

The visiting defence included Andrew Boyce, who was desperately bad while on loan at Pools at the start of last season. It said it all that he looked comfortable during the game.

Pools had the first chance when impressive debutant Sean Kavanagh rolled a ball low across the area and it just evaded Billy Paynter.

They should have had a penalty when Omar Bogle clearly handballed in the area. Referee Darren Drysdale wasn’t interested, he seemed more intent on emulating Mike Dean with dramatic gestures and motions than giving a blatant spot kick. He wasn’t helped by his assistant on the Mill House Stand side who didn’t apply the rules either.

Padraig Amond netted twice against his former club in October, but didn’t have much to work from this time. He deflected a clearance into his path and took an early chance on a firmly-struck volley but keeper Dean Henderson saved.

Amond could, perhaps have took it on a touch but it was as inviting opening as the ball sat up.

Paynter tried his luck with a firm and strong volley in first-half injury time, which fizzed over.

Pools were one-down by then, as a pass from deep diverted into the path of Adi Yussuf – who looked suspiciously offside – to get in behind Scott Harrison to finish.

For all their second-half possession the only real chance came from a short corner as Kavanagh curled towards goal and the ball was headed off the line.

Hignett said: “We played well. Particularly in the second-half. We controlled the game and we were the ones who were pushing.

"To come away with nothing is hugely frustrating.

"As far as the performance, the way the team looked and shape we were excellent. We made enough chances.

"If there is a criticism it was that we were not clinical enough.

"We are struggling to put games to bed - that is something we have to work on, like we do week-in, week-out.

"Podge you would expect him to score.

"We have one off the line then a penalty which was blatant.

So we have had things that on another day we would have got two or three.

"I think if we'd have scored we would have went on and won.

"They were rocking. We were pressing but our decision making in the final third let us down and when we got the chance the quality was missing also.’’