Defensive slips sink Latics

HARTLEPOOL 4 ATHLETIC 2

DEFENSIVE disintegration cost Athletic dear as Paul Dickov’s side gave up their unbeaten run at Victoria Park.

A Dale Stephens goal gave then visitors the lead. But a penalty conceded for a handball by Jean-Yves Mvoto was converted by Neil Austin and a goal on the stroke of half-time from Peter Hartley put Mick Wadsworth’s side – who leapfrog Athletic in the npower League One table – in front.

Two second-half strikes by Ritchie Humphreys and Antony Sweeney made the game safe before Mvoto made amends with a late header, in what was Athletic’s first defeat in six matches since October.

Dickov made one change to the starting line-up from the last game way back on November 27, with Cedric Evina making way for Felipe Morais.

The pitch was a skiddy one following a downpour shortly before kick-off and the home side had a half-shout for a penalty as Reuben Hazell went in awkwardly on Sweeney after Paul Black had slipped on the edge of his own area.

Hartlepool captain Sam Collins had to retire injured after only 10 minutes and was replaced by Steven Haslam.

Athletic took the lead with a well-worked goal. Striker Oumare Tounkara brought the ball down on his chest on the right wing, ran purposely forward and squared inside for Stephens, who took a touch out of his feet before placing an accurate drive across goalkeeper Jake Kean and into the bottom-left corner of the net.

The advantage was almost doubled when Aidan White made a strong run down the right wing only to be unceremoniously brought down by Hartley, who picked up a yellow card.

Stephens’ free-kick was then eventually cleared to Chris Taylor, who hits a lovely right-foot volley only a yard wide of the right-hand post.

Hartlepool’s first effort on goal followed, James Brown weaving a path away from defenders before fizzing a left-footed shot which forced Dean Brill into a stretching save behind.

The home team were level soon after. Hazell’s headed clearance hit Mvoto on his arm and after referee Andy Haines had pointed to the spot, Austin sent Brill the wrong way on 27 minutes.

Taylor was booked for complaining too much about a decision that didn’t go his way but Athletic were at least matching their opponents and almost went back in front when Stephens’ corner was met by Tounkara, with the ball cleared off the line by a combination of Kean and Haslam.

Mvoto was then for hauling back Ritchie Humphreys. And as the free-kick was swung into the area by Evan Horwood, it went over everyone apart from Hartley, who volleyed emphatically home from six yards out as the visitors once again surrendered a lead due to poor defending.

Five minutes after half-time, a loose ball was picked up on by Tounkara who side-footed a shot from the edge of the area which forced Kean into a diving save to his left, Taylor unable to reach the rebound to turn it home.

Hartlepool, always dangerous going forward with their front three, went two goals clear thanks to some smart play by James Brown. Teasing Paul Black down the right, the striker produced a dangerous cross which was headed back by Leon McSweeney right into the path of Humphreys who made no mistake, heading home from inside the six-yard box.

Athletic made a double change to try to get a foothold in the game, with Ritchie Jones and Cedric Evina replacing Dean Furman and Felipe Morais.

Jones was booked straight away for a cynical foul on livewire Brown and soon things went from bad to worse for the visitors.

From another set-piece, more poor marking allowed Hartlepool to register a fourth of the afternoon. Brown flicked the ball on and Sweeney, directly behind, wrong-footed Black to get goal-side and power a shot home through the legs of Brill.

Mvoto was thrust up front with a quarter-hour left as Athletic moved to a back three, with White coming off and Ryan Brooke entering the fray.

It was nearly five when Brown headed narrowly wide, before Athletic grabbed a second.

Kieran Lee crossed and Mvoto met the ball powerfully to score with a header, off the underside of the bar, as the clock ticked down to give the visitors a glimmer of hope.

But despite pressing hard in six added minutes, Athletic had left themselves too much to do.

“I am disappointed,” said Dickov. “We started the game ever so well and the penalty decision changed the game completely.

“Jean-Yves (Mvoto) had his hands by his side.

“But I am not going to make excuses. Hartlepool were the better team in the end.”

HARTLEPOOL (4-3-3): Kean; Austin, Collins, Hartley, Horwood; Sweeney, Murray, Liddle; McSweeney, Brown, Humphreys. Subs not used: Rafferty, Gamble, Boyd, Yantoro, Haslam, Bjornsson, Larkin.

Goals: Austin (pen) 27, Hartley 45, Humphreys 58, Sweeney 69

Bookings: Austin, Hartley

ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Brill; Lee, Mvoto, Hazell, Black; White, Stephens, Furman, Morais; Taylor, Tounkara. Subs not used: Jones, Kelly, Fleming, Feeney, Brooke, Evina, Trotman.

Goals: Stephens (18), Mvoto (81)

Bookings: Mvoto, Hazell, Jones, Taylor

Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne and Wear)

Attendance: 3,411 (433 travelling fans)