Former Halifax striker Mani Dieseruvwe dealt The Shaymen’s play-off hopes a blow as his penalty earned Hartlepool a 1-0 win.
This was only Town’s second defeat in nine games following a run of seven wins in eight, so a bump in the road is certainly forgivable.
Just over a week after the memorable win against Chesterfield, Halifax were brought crashing back down to earth and reminded that they still have a lot of work to do if they’re to seal a top seven finish.
Town made the more calm, composed start, seeing more of the ball and winning the early midfield battles.
Hartlepool, on the back of their 7-1 mauling at Gateshead, looked a little nervy and struggled to get into a rhythm, with sloppy passes or poor control letting the down and not exactly helping to get the home fans back on side.
Unsurprisingly, top scorer Dieseruvwe was the focal point of their attacks, with Pools often going from back to front to find him, but his first chance came on the deck rather than in the air as he was played through one on one with Sam Johnson, but the Town keeper made a good save having raced off his line.
That was the first chance of note, and by far the biggest of the first-half, 23 minutes in.
Dieseruvwe was engaged in a physical battle with former team-mate Jamie Stott for every long ball played up to him, which was much more interesting to watch than the match itself, which was too often played at a pedestrian pace.
Flo Hoti dragged a shot wide after half-an-hour for Halifax’s first effort, with their first shot on target coming through Rob Harker ten minutes later.
His and Max Wright’s efforts both went straight to Pools keeper Pete Jameson.
This wasn’t the effervescent, exuberant Town from last week’s win over Chesterfield, The Shaymen were more cautious and safety first.
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