HARTLEPOOL United last night suffered away defeat number five as they fell to a harsh 2-1 reverse at Rushden & Diamonds.

Despite another expert finish from the ever-willing and ever-impressive Gordon Watson, Pool's first visit to the plush surroundings of Nene Park ended in misery.

And if defeat wasn't hard enough to take for skipper Micky Barron, he suffered personal agony to boot when he netted an own goal to put his side one-behind in the first-half.

Watson pulled Pool level on half-time with another tidy finish, but a towering header from Diamonds' new boy Caleb Folan - freshly signed from Leeds' youth set-up - ensured a fifth consecutive away reverse on the trot.

Again Pool pressed their hosts, but again couldn't find the outcome their efforts deserved.

Looking at the table from outside, there's every chance people will be critical. Looking at the performances they shouldn't be.

With Mark Tinkler fit, Turner's only change to the starting line-up saw Graeme Lee return.

Tommy Widdrington enjoyed his best game in a Pools shirt seven days ago, and from the start last night he looked set to follow suit.

First he linked up with Kevin Henderson to send a snap-shot wide from 18 yards and minutes later he was Pool's saviour clearing Barry Hunter's looping header from under his own crossbar.

Pool were up against Christian Lee, the former Northampton striker who played one game on trial for Turner during the pre-season build up. He failed to impress against Blyth and was out to make an impact at Rushden after joining the League new boys on loan from Kettering last week.

Pool strikers Henderson and Watson were getting little change from the home defence, and Rushden were attacking at pace and in numbers.

A Pool player then found the net, but it was in the worst circumstances. Jon Brady's right-wing cross was defelcted and as it spun into the area, Barron got there ahead of a clutch of players and could only side-foot into his own net from close range.

Jon Bass found himself in on the edge of the area, brought the ball under control and laid it off to Widdrington who played in the Watson to rifle it into the net.

The leveller opened the game up after the restart as both teams looked for the winner. Henderson was replaced by Ritchie Humphreys, as Pool looked for a second but within a minute they were behind.

A quick free-kick on the left played in Andy Burgess and his whipped-in cross was met by Folan to fire home from six yards

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