Pools lost out 3-1 to League leaders Swansea City at The Vic this afternoon in controversial circumstances.
The start to the game with League leaders Swansea City could not have gone any better for Pools.
With less than thirty seconds on the clock, Wilson's men had taken the lead - great work and determination from James Brown saw the winger poke the ball across the face of goal where Gary Liddle arrived just on time to poke home.
And the early goal typified the nature of the first half as both sides played some entertaining and exciting football in this high-tempo clash.
The hosts were not put off their own stride by this early opener for Pools and they immediately set out in search of an equaliser.
And, for all the Pools forward line kept the visiting defence on their toes this afternoon, Wilson's back line were equally busy dealing with the threats of Scotland and Duffy.
The former Pools' loan man was the first to test Arran Lee-Barrett when he was put through by Andy Robinson but his rifled effort was straight into the body of the big keeper who held the shot.
In this end-to-end opening period, James Brown could well have made it 2-0 to Pools when Sweeney poked a ball through into the box for him and, with the lively forward beating the offside trap, he slotted a ball across the face of goal which went narrowly wide of the far post.
Minutes later and Brown had another great chance when Matty Robson broke well down the left flank, leaving Leon Britton in his wake and pushed on into the box before laying the ball across the face of goal - unfortunately it escaped the attentions of the arriving Brown by mere inches.
With 23 minutes on the clock, the visitors were level - Thomas Butler won a free kick to the right of the penalty box which he lifted into the area, eventually finding Darren Pratley in the centre of the area where he smashed an unstoppable drive past Lee-Barrett and into the back of the net.
With both sides sharing possession equally and putting on an entertaining show in the process, it seemed set that half time would arrive with the teams all square.
But the official Mr Probert seemed to have other ideas - a ball out of defence was flicked on into the path of Darryl Duffy and he took the ball right to the by-line before cutting it back for strike partner Scotland.
When the ball arrived at Scotland's feet, Ben Clark put in what looked ot be a fair challenge to take possession but, with play continuing, Probert called things back and pointed at the spot, awarding Swansea City a controversial penalty kick.
Scotland stepped up to smash home the penalty, making it 2-1 on the very stroke of half time and the officials left the field to a chorus of boos from the Pools' fans inside The Vic.
Although it didn't quite have the tempo of the first period, the second half belonged mostly to Pools who really did deserve something from the game.
But, as has been the case for much of this campaign, lady luck did not seem to be backing Pools as they went on to lose another two key players through injury and concede a third goal - largely against the run of play.
Just minutes into the second forty-five and Pools were denied by a great save from Dorus De Vries in the visiting goal. A ball into the box from Ritchie Humphreys found Michael Nelson rising highest at the far post but his thundering header was tipped over the bar by the Swansea stopper with an impressive save.
Nelson looked to have been brought down inside the box following the resulting corner kick but Mr Probert was n no mood to make amends and play continued.
Matty Robson had another chance to level things when he burst down the left wing, once again out-pacing Britton but his low drive from the edge of the box went just wide of the far post.
With further chances for Robson and a diving header from Nelson which pulled another good save out of De Vries, Wilson's men were battling hard for a way back into the game.
But a big blow in the 55th minute slightly took the sting out of the Pools' attack - when James Brown went into a challenge with Alan Tate, the Pools forward was left writhing in agony with what looked to be another injury to that right knee and Brown had to be helped from the pitch to be replaced by Michael Mackay.
Mackay managed to get a shot in on goal which just missed the arriving Porter before Pools were 3-1 down - losing another player in the process.
A quick break from the visitors saw Pratley lift the ball clear from a defensive area, freeing Darryl Duffy on the right wing and, with the Pools defence caught slightly out of position, Arran lee-Barrett made the decision to run out of his area to challenge Duffy.
Unfortunately it was Gary Liddle who was tracking back who felt the full force of Lee-Barret's challenge and, as Pratley hit the ball into an empty net, it seemed clear that Liddle had been hurt - eventually being stretchered from the field.
Pools' heads went down a bit after the goal and despite efforts from Boland and Monkhouse, there was no way through for Wilson's men as Swansea City held on for the 3-1 win.
Pools: Lee-Barrett, Sweeney, Nelson, Clark, Humphreys (Foley 76), Monkhouse, McCunnie, Liddle (Boland 76), Robson, Porter, Brown (Mackay 55)
Subs Not Used: Budtz, Antwi
Swansea City: De Vries, Austin, Tate, Britton (Way 90), Pratley, Scotland, Duffy, Lawrence, Robinson, Rangel, Butler (Tudor-Jones 66)
Subs Not Used: Bauza, Knight, Williams
