TWO goals in as many minutes on the stroke of half-time ended Hartlepool United's FA Cup hopes against West Ham.

Pools went in at the break deflated after two mad minutes, after an enthralling 45 minutes of the fourth round tie at Victoria Park.

After seeing off Stoke City three weeks previous, there was to be no Premier League repeat outcome on this occasion.

The first came when a move from right to left saw Herita Ilunga cross from the left and the ball dropped into the path of Valon Behrami, who arrowed his low shot into the corner of Arran Lee-Barrett's net.

And number two came from the penalty spot – in controversial circumstances. A long ball was headed on and struck an outstretched Micky Nelson arm. The Pools skipper was outside the penalty area, but referee Lee Mason didn't wait to judge the incident and pointed to the spot.

The kick was rammed home by Mark Noble.

After an enthralling – and equal – first-half, it was a very harsh way for Pools to go into the break.

They more than matched the Premier League side until the goals.

But for all their possession, passing and workrate, the closest they came to scoring in the first half came when a Matty Robson corner was knocked towards goal by Michael Mackay and Scott Parker, positioned on the far post, hacked away.

Parker wasn't allowed to exert any first-half influence as he was constantly shadowed by Ritchie Jones in central midfield.

Lee-Barrett made a telling low block at the feet of Carlton Cole when the striker was in on goal, but the next time the pair met, Cole was hounded by the opposition.

He went into Lee-Barrett with his studs raised, but referee Mason – who sent off Pools defender Jack Ross in controversial circumstances in a fourth round replay in 2005 - felt the challenge was without malice.

The same thing happened in the second period, Cole this time catching Lee-Barrett in the face with his boot and again Mason didn't feel the need to intervene.

Cole was soon replaced by Gianfranco Zola.

Pools best chance in the second period came when, from a Robson cross, Gary Liddle looped a header over.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Lee-Barrett; Sweeney, Nelson, Clark, Humphreys; Monkhouse, Liddle, Jones (Foley 85), Robson; Mackay (Henderson 56), Porter. Subs (not used): Budtz, McCunnie, Collins, Power, Rowell.

WEST HAM UNITED: Green, Ilunga, Collins, Faubert, Behrami, Tomkins, Collison, Noble, Parker, Cole (Sears 77), Di Michele (Mullins 75). Subs (not used): Neill, Boa Morte, Spector, Tristan, Stetch.

Referee: Lee Mason (Preston)