Second dull draw in a row for Pools

HARTLEPOOL United and Stevenage played out a drab goalless draw at Victoria Park – Pools’ second in a week.

After a 0-0 at Walsall last weekend, this game had the same outcome and was of the same nature, with neither goalkeeper over-worked in a game of few openings.

Pools’ best chance came on 27 minutes. Andy Monkhouse and Evan Horwood linked up well on the left side following the forward’s neat backheel and the latter’s cross found Jack Baldwin at the far post.

His header was steered and cushioned back across Chris Day, but the goalkeeper stretched to palm away.

Luke Freeman headed over for the visitors five minutes later, meeting a Laurie Wilson cross after Pools failed to clear their defensive lines after a couple of attempts.

Marc Laird’s low shot was kept out by goalkeeper Scott Flinders, with the rebound easily mopped.

A brief spell of pressure midway in the second-half saw Pools ask questions, but they were unable to find a way through a well-drilled back four.

The closest they came was when substitute James Poole sent a dipping volley which had Day stretched.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Flinders; Austin, Collins, Hartley, Horwood; Murray, Baldwin (Poole 46), Liddle; Monkhouse, Humphreys (Boyd 74), Sweeney. Subs: Poole, Haslam, Rowbotham, Hawkins.

STEVENAGE: Day; Wilson, Roberts, Ashton, Charles; Slew (Reid 62), Freeman (Shroot 58), Bostwick, Byrom, Laird; Agyemang (Myrie-Williams 74).

Subs: Julian (gk), Lascelles.

Attendance: 4,484