Marcus Dinanga fired his 90th-minute penalty over the bar as Aldershot Town slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Hartlepool United in the National League.

Corey McKeown’s 69th-minute header proved decisive as the Pools claimed all three points from a competitive encounter in front of a crowd of 2,865 at the EBB Stadium.

Shots boss Scott Davies was forced into an early change on 14 minutes, with Kwaku Frimpong replacing John Gilbert.

The Pools created the first chance of the game in the 23rd minute when Brooklyn Ilunga’s cross found Max Kouogun in the box, who put his effort over the bar.

Hakeem Sandah was a lively presence for the Shots on the left, and he cut inside on the half-hour mark and hit a shot goalwards that was claimed by Pools keeper Max Merrick.

The Shots went close again a minute later when Dominic Odusanya won the ball in midfield and fed Sandah on the left, who drove forward but wasn’t able to get enough power on his effort to trouble Merrick.

Odusanya fed Sandah again on 34 minutes, and the winger cut inside and saw his right-footed effort deflected over the bar by Jay Benn for a corner.

Jacob Borgnis found Basil Tuma from the resulting set piece and Tuma flicked the ball on to Michael Stickland, whose header was saved by Merrick.

Hartlepool broke straight down the other end of the pitch and Jack Nolan played in Ilunga, whose effort was well saved by Shots keeper Nick Hayes.

Frimpong received the first yellow card of the afternoon in the 40th minute, when his sliding challenge caught Jamie Miley.

Aldershot nearly took the lead on 42 minutes when Sandah’s inviting cross found Michee Efete, who flicked his header just wide of the far post.

The Shots had another opportunity in first-half stoppage time when Odusanya’s crisp pass found Frimpong, whose curling effort went just wide of the right-hand post.

The Pools created the first chance of the second half in the 50th minute when Miley’s cross from the right found Will Harris, who flicked his header just wide of the far post.

The visitors went close again a minute later when Chris Popov burst into the box and fired his left-footed effort into the side netting.

The Shots nearly took the lead in the 53rd minute when Sandah flicked the ball on to Dinanga, who fired his half-volley over the bar.

The Pools started to take control of the game on the hour mark, and looked threatening as they penned the Shots back.

Davies made his second substitution of the afternoon on 67 minutes, with Conor Lawless replacing Borgnis.

Hartlepool nearly went ahead a minute later when Harris' volley was parried away by Hayes.

The Pools recycled the ball and Ilunga’s cross from the right found McKeown, who headed home past Hayes from close range.

Davies made a triple change on 74 minutes, with Elijah Oladunjoye, Marcus Wyllie and Tyrese Dyce replacing Efete, Frimpong and Sandah.

The Shots were awarded a penalty in the 89th minute when Tuma drove into the box and was fouled by Neo Eccleston. Dinanga stepped up from the spot, but fired his 90th-minute effort over the bar.

Aldershot continued to look for a late leveller, but the Pools held firm to claim all three points and condemn the Shots to their first defeat of the season.

Next up for the Shots is a home game against Fulham under-21s in the National League Cup on Tuesday, August 18 (7.45pm kick-off).

Aldershot Town: Nick Hayes, Michee Efete (Elijah Oladunjoye 74), Kiki Oshilaja (c), Michael Stickland, Nino Adom-Malaki, Jacob Borgnis (Conor Lawless 67), Dominic Odusanya, John Gilbert (Kwaku Frimpong 14 (Marcus Wyllie 74)), Basil Tuma, Marcus Dinanga, Hakeem Sandah (Tyrese Dyce 74).

Unused substitutes: Jack Matton, Tristan Abrahams.

Hartlepool United: Max Merrick, Jay Benn (Neo Eccleston 46), Reiss McNally, Max Kouogun, Cameron John, Jack Nolan (Nathan Sheron 59), Jamie Miley, Jack Hunter, Brooklyn Ilunga (Terry Bondo 83), Chris Popov (Corey McKeown 59), Will Harris (Jordan Hugill 83).

Unused substitutes: Nathan Fisher, Charlie Penman.

Attendance: 2,865 (348 away).

Referee: Lewis Smith.

Assistant referees: Ciaran Fidler, Elliott Mayer.

Fourth official: Nick Dunn.