HARTLEPOOL United suffered away defeat number five as they fell to a harsh 2-1 reverse at Rushden and Diamonds on Friday evening.

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 their fifth consecutive away reverse on the trot.

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

Because this defeat was once again a case of what might have been.

With Mark Tinkler fit from a stomach strain suffered in last week's win over Carlisle, Turner's only change to the starting line-up was to restore Graeme Lee to the fray.

Tommy Widdrington enjoyed his best game in a Pools shirt seven days ago and from the start 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 when he headed Barry Hunter's looping header from underneath his own crossbar.

The centre-half found space behind the Pool defence at the far post and his looping header beat Anthony Williams and was heading for the net before Widdrington's intervention.

And when Scott Partridge shot wide of the post with a low drive, Pool were thankful they weren't two goals behind with barely ten minutes on the clock.

Henderson gave Pool some respite with an effort from 25-yards that sailed low, but could only find the arms of home keeper Tony Pennock.

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 back in August and was out to make an impact at Rushden after joining the League new boys on loan from Kettering last week.

Lee was played onside by James Sharp and only the quick reactions of Williams, who raced off his line, closed the striker down.

Pool were mainly relying on long, hopeful balls fired towards Henderson and Watson, but the strikers were getting little change from the home defence.

And when the home side attacked, they did so at pace and in numbers to leave Pool caught short on a number of occasions.

Widdrington's slide-rule pass beat the home defence and as Henderson latched onto it in space, he looked sure to score. The striker, whith just one goal to his name this season, beat Pennock, but could only find the side-netting.

Henderson then repaid the compliment when he fed Widdrington and the former Port Vale midfielder fired over the bar.

When a yellow shirt did manage tofind the net 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.

Tinkler almost pulled Pool level when his dipping volley had Pennock at full stretch to palm it from under the bar, but right on half-time they found the net.

Jon Bass found himslf in on the edge of the area, brought the ball under control and laid it off to Widdrington who played in the striker.

With one touch he expertly rifled it into the net, low past Pennock to net his third goal in four games since his link-up with former Sheffield Wednesday teammate Turner.

The leveller opened the game up after the restart as both sides, at the wrong end of the table, strived for the three points to lift them away from basement boys Exeter.

Tinkler picked the ball up in his own half and showed great determination to beat two challenges and fire in a shot that beat Pennock, but also sailed over the bar.

Henderson had worked hard up front, but too often the pair played too far apart leaving one of the striking partners isolated.

He was replaced by Ritchie Humphreys, but within a minute Pool were behind.

A quick free kick on the left played in Andy Burgess and his whipped-in cross was met by Folan and he wasn't going to miss from six yards out.

Another substitution followed and with it came a change in formation from Turner. On came Jermaine Easter and off went James Sharp with Pool throwing three up-front.

From a Paul Stephenson corner the ball fell for Tinkler with his back to goal and despite directing the ball into the far corner, Pennock produced a stunning one-handed save to push it out.

Humphreys played in the hole behind the front two as he did to good effect for the reserves on Wednesday, but this time found the going tougher.

Tinkler headed a Humphreys cross back across goal, but only Jermaine Easter - the smallest player on the pitch - was rushing in and it evaded his effort.

Easter tried to make amends when he jigged into the danger area, only to fire low at Pennock.

On came Boyd, looking to repeat last weeks second-half appearance with another goal, and off went Bass with turner throwing all his attacking options into the fray.

Goals: Barron og (21mins, 1-0); Watson (45, 1-1); Folan (67, 2-1).

Bookings: Hanlon, Bass, Burgess (fouls)

Refeee: Clive Penton (East Sussex)

Attendance: 3929

RUSHDEN (4-4-2): Pennock 7; UNDERWOOD 7, Peters 6, Hunter 6, Sambrook 6; Brady 6, Burgess 6, Hanlon 7; Partridge 6, Lee 6 (Folan 58, 7). Subs (not used): Rodwell, Mils, Setchell, Naylor.

HARTLEPOOL (3-5-2): Williams 6; Sharp 6 (Easter 68, 6), Barron 6, Lee 6; Robinson 7, Widdrington 6, Stephenson 6, Tinkler 6, Bass 6 (Boyd 85); WATSON 7, Henderson 6 (Humphreys 64, 6). Subs (not sed): Hollund, Arnison.

MAN OF THE MATCH : GORDON Watson - another stylish display

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