IT was August last year and Fylde won at Hartlepool United.

“Sometimes players can hide a little bit, don’t get me wrong I think they will be alright but there will be a little bit of turmoil and hard work to come first before they turn things around,’’ said victorious manager Dave Challinor of Pools after that triumph.

A lot of water has passed under the railway bridge on the way into town since. But Challinor could have stood there last night and said exactly the same.

His side heaped a sixth successive National League defeat on Pools. Last year it was Pools sixth game without a win.

Flyde were better than Pools and have better players.They wanted victory more last night.

Where will the misery end? Not just this current run but the general malaise which lingers over the team. For all their efforts in the summer and beyond in stablishing the club off the field, on it the same issues remain.

Pools take on Dagenham at home on Saturday; another must win game.

Boss Matthew Bates said: “It’s familiar, it really is. Taking this and Dover as two games, we were miles better tonight than Dover and deserved something. Luck was against us.

“Conor (Newton) had a deflected shot on the bar, they go two u with a deflected shot. The lads gave me their all – everything, running, workrate. I demand that from them.

“They are feeling it, they are frustrated but we are in it together. We started the season well, many reasons why it’s turned and I won’t go into it. We keep going. Keep working. Luck has to change and effort, hard work and 100 per cent will see us out of it.’’’

With Luke James alone up front, Pools were reliant on midfielders running from deep. James held the ball up for Newton, making the most of a rare start.

He burst into the area and fired low into goalkeeper Jay Lynch.

At the other end, Pools needed Carl Magnay on the goalline to clear when Danny Rowe worked an opening and fired in.

Then Scott Loach denied the visitors an opening with a fine one-handed save after Rowe clipped in a cross for Philliskirk.

Pools should have gone in front on 20 minutes. Ryan Donaldson was presented with a routine opening, but as the ball bounced in front of him he completely missed his kick in front of goal.

There was plenty of movement in the Pools side, but patience is a scarce commodity at the club right now. The slightest misplaced pass or mistake was greeted with a smattering of boos.

A swift counter-attack from the visitors could have brought an opener, but Nick Haughton spooned a header wide from a good position.

Donaldson charged from deep at the other end, his low shot skidding off the surface and Lynch did well to push it out.

A minute before half-time, Pools were behind. A cross from the left into the area was on the head of Danny Rowe and the top scorer directed the ball past Loach from the middle of the goal.

The Super Six Stadium fell silent. The players looked around and looked at each other blankly.

A smattering of boos sent the players off at the break.

Loach, seven minutes into the second half, kept Pools in it. A misplaced pass from Mark Kitching led to Rowe breaking away one on one. Loach stuck out a leg and smartly kept out rh low finish.

McLaughlin, captain again, broke from deep and was hounded by the crowd for a misplaced pass, the ball rolling out of play when options for the midfielder were minimal.

Newton almost forced an equaliser – his far post header superbly pushed out by Lynch.

Noble, dumped on Saturday for disciplinary reasons, was then introduced for McLaughlin. He also got the captaincy back.

“Liam... no secret what went on at the weekend. I decided to bring him back and we settled our differences if you like. We move on. It’s done, it happens at clubs everywhere,’’ added Bates.

“It’s no distraction – handbags in the scheme of things. Not ideal, we understand that, but we spoke about it – he’s an important player for us and will be for the season.

“He come on and tried to galvanise everyone, tried to make things tick and a huge part in getting a goal.

The returning midfielder found Donaldson, who picked his spot and his fierce shot was kept out well by Lynch.

But it was soon game over. Substitute Arthur Gnahoua spun a low and deflected a shot around Loach into the corner.

Again Pools players stood and looked at each other. The Super 6 Stadium floodlights were on, but there was no-one at home.

The crowd was down, little over 1,700 looking on during a vile evening.

There was a spark, a clear handball in the area handing Pools a penalty. Noble – who else? – netted from the spot.

He was then booked in injury time; Pools ran out of it.