Brown opened the scoring for Hartlepool after 20 minutes

Hartlepool punished some slack Cheltenham defending to keep the Robins rooted to the bottom of the table.

Just before the mid-point of the first-half Hartlepool scored twice in three minutes thanks to James Brown's slick finish and an Andy Gallinagh own goal.

Just past the hour Robins keeper Shane Higgs was unable to hold a cross and Andy Monkhouse finished well.

Substitute Michael Mackay scored from a tight angle for the fourth, before Lloyd Owusu's header made it 4-1.

Hartlepool: Lee-Barrett, McCunnie, Nelson, Collins, Humphreys, Jones, Sweeney, Liddle, Monkhouse (Robson 70), Brown (Mackay 86), Porter (Barker 86).
Subs Not Used: Foley, Rowell.

Goals: Brown 20, Gallinagh 48 og, Monkhouse 62, Mackay 87.

Cheltenham: Higgs, Gallinagh, Caines, Townsend, Wright, Low (Armstrong 74), Bird, Russell, Myrie-Williams (Vincent 74), Hayles (Connor 74), Owusu.
Subs Not Used: Scott P Brown, Duff.

Goals: Owusu 89.

Att: 3,637

Ref: Carl Boyeson (E Yorkshire).