MATTHEW BATES thinks there is still more to come after Hartlepool United climbed up to fifth and within three points of top spot in the National League.

Halifax had two players sent off as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Pools, although Bates thinks his team were “magnificent” and would have won without the dismissals.

The hosts lost captain Matty Brown and Matty Kosylo, both to second yellow cards, in a horror spell early in the second half where the match ran away from them.

Brown's dismissal handed the visitors a penalty which Liam Noble scored, while Nicky Featherstone added their second.

Noble almost gave Pools an early lead, but saw his long-range shot come back off the crossbar, while at the other end Scott Loach kept out Jordan Preston's low effort.

Things started to go wrong for the hosts four minutes into the second half. Brown received his marching orders for bringing down Peter Kioso in the area and Noble converted the penalty.

In the 56th minute, Halifax were reduced to nine men when Kosylo was sent off and Featherstone's fierce effort from the edge of the area eight minutes later left them two goals behind.

The hosts pulled one back in the 88th minute through Jacob Hanson, but it was too little too late.

"From the start that was one of the best performances we have put in," said Hartlepool boss Bates. "The way we moved the ball about, the intensity. It was exactly what I asked for.

"We should have been out of sight by half-time. The red cards have helped us, of course, but I think we would have won with 11 v 11.

"We are improving. I said that we would and we are. I was over the moon with how we moved it and how we played.

"This was against an organised side, too. Everyone to a man was magnificent on the day."

Regardless of whether Hartlepool would have won anyway, the game certainly changed when Brown was dismissed by referee Daniel Middleton for an off the ball incident, much to the frustration of the Shaymen.

"I got a view of it. I don't want to say he has stamped," said Bates. "Peter has headed the ball and gone down on the floor and the lad has hit his head.

"I will have to watch it back whether it is a stamp or a kick but you can't tell me he can't stop himself hitting his head."

HARTLEPOOL: Loach; Kioso, Kitching, Magnay, Davies (Richardson 68), Anderson, Noble, Featherstone, McLaughlin, James (Hawkes 79), Muir (Dinanga 79). Subs (not used): Woods, Newton.