Lee Bradbury: Lady Luck will pay Hawks a visit soon

A stoppage-time penalty condemned them to a 2-1 National League defeat against Hartlepool United at Westleigh Park on Saturday.

It was the visitors' second penalty of the game and the hosts could be forgiven for feeling a little hard done by.

The Hawks also felt they had a perfectly good goal disallowed in the second period when a Ryan Woodford header seemed to cross the line.

Woodford did find the net a few minutes later and the hosts looked on their way to a fourth successive home draw.

However, a late lapse in concentration at the back resulted in Bradley Tarbuck conceding a spot-kick.

Bradbury said: '˜We are not getting the rub of the green.

'˜The lads have been honest, hardworking and we were probably the better side.

'˜But we can't keep coming away with nothing and saying that.

'˜We had the better chances in the game and we are not getting what we deserve at the moment.

'˜If we continue working hard enough then it will turn around.

'˜Hartlepool have had a smash-and-grab here and it speaks volumes we are disappointed not to have beaten a former Football League team.

'˜It is just frustrating we didn't get anything from the game.'

Hartlepool's neat passing game saw them enjoy a lot of possession.

However, the penalties were their only two shots on target all game.

The visitors took a 23rd-minute lead in controversial fashion.

'˜It was unbelievable,' added Bradbury.

'˜A ball into our area is going out when their striker, competing with Paul Robinson, throws himself to the floor.

'˜It was crazy and left us flabbergasted.

'˜We also had a clear foul on Nicke Kabamba in their area which resulted in nothing.'

The Hawks battled back in the second period and with 10 ten minutes remaining substitute Woodford thought he had equalised.

Three minutes later he did level the scores with a superb header from a Brian Stock cross.

'˜Once we equalised we looked the side more likely to win it,' said Bradbury.

'˜Unfortunately we switched off and got punished again.

'˜Their second penalty was like a dagger through the heart.

'˜We have to learn quickly because we keep getting punished for little mistakes.

'˜We can't feel sorry for ourselves and have to be prepared to go again in midweek.

'˜We have a big derby against Aldershot in front of the live television cameras on Wednesday.'

The first home defeat of the season means the Hawks remain in the bottom four.

Hawks: Young, Rose (Woodford, 46min), Harris, Robinson P, Williams (Sekajja, 73min), Stock, Fogden, Carter, Lewis (Rutherford, 60min), Tarbuck, Kabamba. Attendance: 1,272