Hartlepool United have developed an unhealthy habit of shooting themselves in the foot.

And manager Craig Harrison believes it was this most unwanted of reputations that proved his side's downfall, yet again.

Pools led twice in the opening 45 minutes of Saturday's 4-3 defeat at Eastleigh, both goals coming from the increasingly reliable threat of Michael Woods.

But, true to form, Harrison's men not only allowed the Spitfires to return fire once - courtesy of Sam Togwell - but twice, as Chris Zebrozki turned the tide of this encounter right on the stroke of half-time.

The veteran striker then ran riot in the second 45 as he netted two more goals which saw him register one of the simplest hat-tricks you are ever likely to see.

Conor Newton, surprisingly recalled to the side on the right of midfield, did net a late cracker which got pulses racing, but it all proved to be too little, too late as the club's torturous run of 11 games without victory, 10 of which have been in the National League, rolls on.

Harrison admits he is frustrated by his players' ability to turn match-winning positions into yet more long trips home empty handed.

"I thought in the first half we were excellent," said Harrison. "But key moments in games make all the difference and we let them back in just before the break.

“We concede from a corner and whether you like it or not it probably changes the mentality of everyone.

"As we know in football you have a spring in your step when you go in one up but the opposite happens if you concede just before the break.

"Two goals conceded from two corners. It is a set position you can be organised.

"We weren't. We didn't get close enough. We didn't defend the box. Everyone in general, not just individuals."

Since day one this season Pools have never quite looked up to scratch defensively.

Nor have they really threatened at the opposite end, though, having been one of the lowest scorers in the fifth tier to date.

But things seemed to click in an attacking sense - the disappointing thing was that Pools backline looked worse than ever.

Woods scored one of best goals you'll see all season from a Pools perspective as a slick passing move, which contained one touch passes from Nicky Deverdics and Newton ended up being guided expertly by the midfielder into the net for 1-0.

As impressive as Harrison's men were up top, they looked vulnerable at the back.

And it was quickly 1-1 when a simple corner was nodded in by Sam Togwell at the back stick.

Woods then popped up to divert in a deflected cross from the right for the lead before the pivotal moment - Zebroski, again unmarked at the back post, tucked in with his head to level at 2-2 three minutes into added time at the break.

It was a hammer blow Pools never really recovered from.

Zebroski took advantage of some rather laid back defending from Louis Laing and Scott Harrison to net number three and four before Newton gave the slightest glimmer of hope of a way back for Pools late on with a thundering strike from 18 yards.

But, just to round things off perfectly, skipper Carl Magnay saw red for a second bookable offence, and with that yet another week goes by without victory.

Manager Harrison continued to see the positives.

Although, he could not look too far past his side's Achilles heel.

He said: "We have done better going forward than we have in a while.

"We have scored three great goals and that should be enough to win any game you play.

"It's about trying to get the happy medium between defence and attack. At the moment we do not have that."

If there was a plus point to come out of the encounter it was the performance of Woods, who has now netted six in six since the Boxing Day draw with Gateshead.

While the world crumbles around him, the York-born 27-year-old seems to be finding the form of his career.

Harrison admits he's always seen Woods as the type of player who can contribute in the goals for column for Pools, it's just been a matter of confidence in front of goal.

"We spotted from very early on that he was able to creep into good positions and anticipate where the ball would drop," said the under-pressure manager.

"Maybe before he did not have the confidence in front of goal but we have worked on that.

"Now he has improved his confidence and finishing and is reaping the rewards."