HARTLEPOOL United were dumped out of the FA Cup in round one, losing to a single goal at home to Stevenage.

The talking point and on goal came in the opening stages when Pools goalkeeper Scott Flinders felled Chris Beardsley in the area after the striker skirted around him.

Referee Mark Haywood, despite the presence of a covering defender in Neil Austin, showed a red card and Scott Laird slotted away the spot kick past substitute goalkeeper Andy Rafferty, who replaced left winger Evan Horwood.

Pools struggled in the first half as the visitors controlled the game, and only a good stop from Rafferty from Robin Shroot kept the score down.

But in the second half, Pools improved and got on top.

Nobby Solano's corner was met by Peter Hartley who headed into the side netting and then Nathan Luscombe nodded wide from ten yards.

The closest they came to a leveller was on 81 minutes. Adam Boyd laid the ball off for Andy Monkhouse and his lob clipped the crossbar with goalkeeper Chris Day beaten.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Flinders; Austin, Wright, Hartley, Humphreys (Boyd 78); Solano (Luscombe 60), Sweeney, Liddle, Horwood (Rafferty 9); Monkhouse, Poole. Subs: Haslam, Baldwin, Richards, Mellish.

STEVENAGE: Day; Henry, Ashton, Roberts, Laird; Wilson, Bostwick, Mousinho (Long 81), Shroot; Beardsley (Byrom 69), Reid (Harrison 63). Subs: Julian (gk), Edwards, Long, Cowan, Walker.

Attendance: 2,744 Referee: Mark Haywood (Leeds)