Hartlepool 2-3 Notts County: Jon Stead brace gives visitors victory

Two goals from Jon Stead secured a battling 3-2 win for Notts County at Hartlepool, who fought back from 2-0 down to level but still ended up empty-handed.

The experienced striker started and finished the scoring at Victoria Park, with Liam Noble also netting early on for the visitors before Jake Gray and Billy Paynter replied for Pools.

Only four minutes had passed when Stead took possession from a wayward Pools pass, surged forward and, helped by the strong wind, curled a shot high over home keeper Trevor Carson and into the net.

The advantage was doubled after 11 minutes. Elliott Hewitt opened up the Pools defence on the right side, picked out Izale McLeod, who missed his kick, but Noble was well placed to crisply finish low into the corner of Carson's net.

Pools, under new manager Craig Hignett for the second time after a winning debut at the weekend, were terrible in the opening half, but sparked into life afterwards.

Inspired by left winger Nathan Thomas, they drew level.

His long crossfield ball picked out Gray and his angled finish went across keeper Roy Carroll and in off the post after 62 minutes.

Four minutes later, they were level.

Thomas burst down the left, crossed and Paynter knocked in his 10th of the season and third in as many games.

Paynter squandered a glorious chance to put Pools ahead, missing his connection on the line and allowing Carroll to smother.

And it proved costly, as County attacked, won a corner after 80 minutes and Stead rose highest to head in.