The Hartlepool Mail's Robbie Stelling reacts to the defeat to promotion-chasing Oldham on Good Friday.
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00:01Here at Boundary Park, the Hartnipool United six-match unbeaten runners come to an end
00:04following a narrow 2-1 defeat to promotion chasing Oldham.
00:09It was a generally back-to-the-wall first-half performance from Pools.
00:12However, they remained resolute and compact and took the lead,
00:15albeit against the run of play six minutes before the break
00:18when Manny DiCirulli bundled home his 17th goal of the season.
00:21Reyes Cleary, for just about the first time in the afternoon,
00:25gave the impressive Jake Priest the slip, pulled the ball back for Gary Medin,
00:28who forced a fine save from Matthew Hudson.
00:30Luke Charman, who impressed as a makeshift right wing-back,
00:33recycled possession, Joe Gray flicked on and Disserouet was in the right place
00:37at the right time to give Pools the lead.
00:39Very frustratingly for the visitors, that lead lost in less than 60 seconds.
00:43Charlie Raglan headed home Tom Conlon's corner in the 40th minute
00:47as Pools were punished for switching off at a set play, having taken the lead.
00:53In the second half, in truth, Oldham were generally dominant
00:57and Mike Fondop, who else came back to haunt his former club,
01:01scoring his second goal in three games against Pools.
01:04Moments before, he had hit the post from a delicious Tom Conlon free kick
01:09and the two combined again.
01:12Fondop rising highest, getting the better of Skip and Luke Waterfall,
01:14who replaced the stricken Tom Parks at halftime
01:16and heading low and into the corner,
01:18as Oldham tightened their grip on a National League playoff place.
01:21For Pools, it was a performance full of spirit and determination,
01:25perhaps lacking in that little bit of quality,
01:27and that was ultimately the difference.