Hartlepool secured a 1-0 victory against a Port Vale side who must be wondering how they left Victoria Park pointless.
They were losing after an even first half, but dominated the second only to throw it all away.
Hartlepool defended well when they had to, but only one real chance in a one-sided second half is a poor return from Vale as an attacking team.
They won the corner count 11-1, and that sums the game up far better than the scoreline.
There were chances for both sides in a see-saw start before Hartlepool broke the deadlock on 23 minutes.
Teenager Jack Wilkinson's through ball sent strike partner Eifion Williams clear and he scored his fourth of the season with a neat finish from the edge of the area.
Earlier, home midfielder Tony Sweeney brought a good save out of Jon Brain and blasted another chance over the bar after a run from deep.
At the other end, Craig James had been off-target for Vale, and Michael Cummins hit the home post with a header after a corner.
After the goal, though, chances dried up, though seconds before the break home keeper Dimi Konstanopoulos saved well from a Sam Collins header.
In the second half, Vale were clearly on top, but struggled in front of goal, and the best they could muster was a shot from Chris Birchall after he escaped the defence that was easily saved by Konstanopoulos.