Alex Reid’s first goal for Hartlepool clinched a 2-0 win at home to 10-man Braintree.
Reid thought he had given Pools a 13th-minute lead but the striker’s effort was ruled out for offside, while Fletcher Hubbard was also denied by a linesman’s flag at the other end when he fired home just before the half-hour mark.
The home side opened the scoring after 34 minutes when a slick passing move ended with Braintree defender Aidan Francis-Clarke inadvertently turning Danny Johnson’s low cross past his own goalkeeper.
Hartlepool doubled their lead from the penalty spot in the 55th minute when George Langston, who had been booked in the first half, was sent off for bringing down Reid, who stepped up to score.
Braintree had the chance to pull a goal back when Tom Parkes fouled John Akinde in the box but the striker’s penalty was saved by Harvey Cartwright, while the visitors were then denied a consolation by another offside call.
