Swindon got off to a bad start after Ricky Shakes fouled in the box. Hartlepool were awarded a penalty, but new loan goal keeper Peter Brezovan dived to his right and saved the shot from Porter, he then saved the rebound as well at point blank range.
Lee Peacock then opened the scoring for Swindon on 12 minutes with a shot from 8 yards out finding the back of the net to give Swindon a 1-0 lead.
The man of the match was keeper Brezovan who made lots more excellent saves to keep Swindon in the game with Hartlepool looking like they had scored a number of times, but somehow Brezovan managed to keep teh ball out of the net.
In the second half new signing Paul Evans came on to replace Curtis Weston.
Although Swindon had chances it was always Hartlepool who looked most likely to score, with only Bezovan to thank for keeping the score down.
Hartlepool hit the bar twice, but still Swindon held onto their 1-0 lead. Then Smith gave away a second penalty. This time it was taken by Humphreys. Brezovan dived to his left this time and for the second time in the afternoon saved the penalty again.
Swindon hung on through 4 minutes of stoppage tine to take the 1-0 away win. Overall Hartlepool should have won, but thanks to a great display by new goal keeper Peter Brezovan it was Swindon who take all 3 points back down south ahead of Tuesday's home game with Barnet.