HARTLEPOOL United have never enjoyed taking on Macclesfield at Victoria Park.

Four previous meetings had brought two draws and two defeats for Pool - but few have been as costly or important as Tuesday night's reverse.

Because with the defeat came the distant sounding of the death knell for Pool's play-off hopes. Many had written Pool off after home draws with Lincoln and Bristol Rovers, yet they managed to reignite the flame with four points on the road in the last week.

These last three home games with just two points taken from nine - have proved so costly.

Now, with games fast running out, the play-offs are looking a forlorn task. Five games to go and Pool's highest possible tally is 71 points and even to achieve that they must take a maxiumum haul.

Pool have always been playing catch-up after a disappointing start to the season - their win at Macclesfield in October lifted Pool off the bottom of the table - but they had given themselves a great chance of making the play-offs after a fantastic run of form.

Macclesfield did to Pool exactly what Chris Turner's side had done to Carlisle on Tuesday - build on a solid defensive display and when chances come along snap them up.

Pool stuck with the 3-5-2 line-up that had brought two clean sheets and four points in the last week. Turner might have been tempted to revert back to the 4-4-2 system that has been such a success at home in recent months, but with Pool looking so solid with a three-man rearguard it was a case of same again.

Pool started in determined fashion, driving forward in numbers at every opportunity against a team that earned a win at Hull in their last Friday night outing earlier this month.

But the first opening fell to Macclesfield's Danny Whittaker and the midfelder should have done more than lob the ball into the Town End as he tried to lift the ball over Anthony Williams.

Pool's first real opening came on 19 minutes. Paul Smith's right-wing free kick was only half-cleared by the visitors and when Ritchie Humphreys struck a volley at goal, a Macclesfield defender got in the way to deflect the ball wide.

Darrell Clarke has shone in a central midfield role in the last two games; Tuesday night was no different. Twice within a minute to ran at the visiting defence and caused problems. First he was brought down by Darren Tinson but referee George Cain was having none of it, but second time around Michael Welch felled the midfielder and was swiflty shown a yellow card.

Pool were on the back foot just before the half hour mark. Whittaker's shot was defelected for a corner and from the set-piece centre back Tinson collected the ball on the edge of the area but his drive was knocked for another corner that came to nothing.

Clarke was again charging on beyond the strikers from his advanced role, to be denied as he homed in on goal this time by Tinson, the visiting skipper with the looks of an 80s Brylcreem model.

Disaster stuck for Pool on 33 minutes. Chris Westwood was bundled off the ball by Matthew Tipton on the left side of the penalty area and he curled the ball around Williams into the far corner of the net.

Westwood might have been caught in possession, a lump into the stands would have stopped any threat, but the all-too-predicatable moaners in the Mill House Stand, so quick as ever to criticse, hardly helped events.

Smith bent in a free kick that reached Mark Tinkler and when he couldn't get the ball from under his feet it was soon fired away.

Paul Arnison got forward on the right to whip in a dangerous cross that Dave Ridler knocked away for a corner, but Smith's corner came to nothing.

The goal had certainly knocked the confidence of both players and fans and there was no direction or passion from Pool as half-time approached.

But right on the whistle, Pool dug out a chance. The ball broke wide towards Clarke in plenty of space in the penalty area, agonisingly the ball dropped a couple of yards behind the midifelder and the chance went by.

Turner must have been tempted to send his team out for the second half with wingers, pushing Smith and perhaps Clarke out wide.

There was plenty of space behind the Macclesfield wing backs and the pair, who have wreaked havoc among visiting full backs in recent months, could have helped swing the game back in Pool's favour.

Stephenson burst forward and his low cross was met by Clarke six yards out, although his backheel was blocked and cleared.

Watson's persistance won a corner when he charged Tinson and Ridler as they tried to clear. Smith's cross caused panic in the penalty area and the ball was cleared.

But just as Pool were dominating they were given a scare. Chris Byrne picked up Williams' clearance and from 40 yards drove the ball at goal and it drifted inches over the bar.

Smith's free-kick was headed away from Steve Wilson's hands by Graeme Lee - who took a punch in the face for his troubles - and Watson snatched at the ball firing over the bar when Clarke was well placed eight yards out.

Pool had a huge penalty appeal rejected on 58 minutes. Arnison advanced into the penalty area and as he looked set to meet Humphreys' cross he was bundled over by Danny Adams. The Town End and players joined forces in appealing, but referee George Cain was having none of it.

Pool were left with mission impossible with 29 minutes to go. Rickie Lambert collected a low ball in the penalty area, turned and drilled the ball low past Williams in the Pool goal.

With the goal came a formation switch - off went Paul Arnison, on came left back Mark Robinson and Clarke and Smith moved to the wing.

Lee again rose highest in the area to meet Stephenson's free kick, but without any pace on the header it was collected by Wilson.

And the powerful defender was again left frustrated on 73 minutes when his header was superbly clawed out by the keeper.

Once again Wilson was Pool's nemesis. This time somehow getting across his goal to block Clarke's close range volley.

Somehow Clarke later missed a double chance with three minutes to go. He lobbed Wilson and the ball came back off the bar which gave the keeper the chance to get first to the rebound as he again denied Clarke.

And Wilson next made a superb double-block to keep out Clarke and Smith with the ball in the six yard box.

On Pool's last Friday night game, Rochdale keeper Neil Edwards was outstanding; Tuesday night was no different.

With three minutes of injury time to come, Westwood lobbed Wilson to finally beat the keeper and hand Pool a lifeline.

* The Corner Flag is holding a question and answer session with Pool boss Chris Turner on Tuesday night. Admission is free for the even which starts at 7.30pm.

Goals: Tipton (33mins, 0-1); Lambert (61, 0-2); Westwood (90, 1-2)

Bookings: Welch (foul), Byrne (dissent)

Referee: George Cain (Bootle)

Attendance: 3,819

HARTLEPOOL (3-5-2): A Williams 6; Westwood 5, Barron 6, Lee 7; Smith 7, CLARKE 8, Stephenson 6, Tinkler 6 (Boyd 76), Arnison 6 (Robinson 65, 6); Watson 6 (E Williams 60, 6), Humphreys 5. Subs (not used): Hollund, Henderson.

MACCLESFIELD (3-5-2): WILSON 8; Tinson 6, Ridler 6, Welch 6; Hitchin 6, Bryne 7, Keen 7, Whittaker 6, Adams 6; Lambert 7, Tipton 6 (Glover 67, 6). Subs (not used): Martin, Abbey, Wooley, Askey.

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