HARTLEPOOL UNITED avoided defeat at Tranmere in a game they couldn’t afford to lose – but they were left to rue what might have been.
In their most complete away display of the season, Pools came from a goal down to draw 1-1, but couldn’t find the winning goal they deserved. 
Pools are nine points  behind Rovers at the bottom of the Football League, but were the better side throughout. 
Michael Woods had two early openings, and keeper Owain Fon-Willams saved superbly to keep out the second shot from distance.
But Pools trailed on 12 minutes. Rory Donnelly’s cross from the left floated across the area and found the unmarked Kaayode Odejayi to steer a sidefooted volley home.
The deficit only lasted two minutes. 
Aaron Tshibola crossed, Woods was again denied by some Fon-Willliams heroics but Scott Fenwick reacted to drill in his third goal in five starts as a professional footballer.
Buoyed in confidence from their goal, Pools took the game to the home side.
Rakish Bingham missed his shot when presented with a chance to volley home and then Jon Franks had a chance charged down by some committed Ash Taylor defending. 
There was a blow, however, when they lost scorer Fenwick to a shoulder injury as he was replaced by Marlon Harewood.
Matthew Bates turned on the edge of the area and fired inches wide with Fon-Williams beaten. 
At the other end, Dan Jones defended well to block a goalkeeper Jennison Myrie-Williams shot.
And in injury time, Franks had a shot deflected wide and Bingham’s shot was the wrong side of the post.