HARTLEPOOL UNITED’S nine match unbeaten run came to an end as they slipped out of a National League play-off spot with a 3-0 defeat at Salford.

Salford climbed up to second by hitting three second half goals at the Peninsula Stadium to inflict the first away defeat on Pools since March.

Danny Lloyd, Adam Rooney and Tom Walker all found the net to frustrate Matthew Bates and his team at City.

Now Hartlepool will look to climb back into the play-off zone by defeating Aldershot at Victoria Park on Saturday.

Hartlepool, who made one change because Peter Kioso was suspended, had won four in a row on the road so this was a major disappointment given how Bates was confident his men could deliver against the big spenders.

Hartlepool lost Niko Muir to injury but looked bright in the first half, even though Walker hit the bar twice for the hosts.

Salford took the lead in the 64th minute when Lloyd got on the end of a low cross before Rooney nodded powerfully past Loach from a corner for the second five minutes later.

And with Pools looking to fight back they were again caught as Walker produced a finish from close range in the 75th minute to cap ten minutes of disappointment for Hartepool.

Striker Luke James, meanwhile, has been called up to the England C squad for their next fixture.

The Pools frontman will team up with the side for a friendly against Estonia under-23s on Wednesday, October 10.

SALFORD: Neal; Wiseman, Touray, Shelton, Walker (Hogan 78), Piergianni, Whitehead, Pond, Lloyd (Maynard 87), Rooney (Rodney 87), Gaffney. Subs (not used): Crocombe, Haughton.

HARTLEPOOL: Loach; Magnay, Davies, Anderson, Kitching; Newton (Woods 72), Featherstone; Noble, McLaughlin, Muir (Dinanga 19), James. Subs (not used): Richardson, Hawkins, Hawkes.