IT’S perhaps a measure of Hartlepool’s revival that boss Ronnie Moore was left ruing what could have been after going close to upsetting play-off chasing Newport County at Rodney Parade.

The visitors raced into a two-goal lead through a Lee Minshull own goal and on-loan Preston man Jordan Hugill – his first strike for the club – to spark wild scenes of celebration from Moore and his staff.

But two goals in four minutes either side of the interval meant Pools ended the contest clinging grimly for a share of the spoils.

This was a battle between two sides in good form with identical formations, the in-vogue 3-5-2 system deployed by both managers making this part scrappy League Two contest, part chess match.

And though a checkmate eluded Pools, Moore admits his team can stop worrying about the other teams battling against the drop – after five wins on the spin looked a real possibility at half-time.

“Newport are in the play-offs and we are disappointed we didn’t win the game, I think that shows how much we have improved,” said Moore, whose side are a point above the relegation zone.

“You’ve got to remember who we are playing against, they’ve scored just before the interval and the crowd has got behind them and we had a mad ten minutes to be fair.

“We conceded a bad goal just before the break and just after it, they can’t score from a long-ball like that and suddenly from looking safe we are under pressure.

“But I can’t be disappointed about coming here and only taking a point, the players worked their socks off and gave everything.

“It’s disappointing we couldn’t sustain it, but we are still above that relegation line and we don’t need to worry about anyone as long as we continue to do our part.

“It’s the first time for a long time I have come off the pitch after a game and I haven’t even felt like I needed to look at the other scores and the table.”

Pools didn’t lose any ground at the bottom, and gained points on a couple of sides.

Cheltenham lost at York, Tranmere drew at Stevenage, while Carlisle were thankful for a goal by Charlie Wyke five minutes into stoppage time to earn them a point against Portsmouth.

Cambridge lost again – they only have one victory in 15 – and Mansfield were beaten.

Pools odds last month to go down were 1/33 – today they are 11/10. The bookies, so they say, know their stuff.

It was the home side who looked like making the early inroads, but Pools’ new-found resolve shone as they repelled the early dangers.

Scott Flinders expertly tipped away a dangerous cross before Aaron O’Connor was denied by some disciplined defending, Scott Harrison forcing him to rush his effort and fire wide.

It provided just the fillip for Moore’s men, who took the lead on 16 minutes when Exiles midfielder Minshull couldn’t help himself from heading Michael Duckworth’s perfect centre into his own net.

It was against the run of play but the same couldn’t be said for Pools’ second, as by then Jonathan Franks had fired narrowly wide and stung the hands of Joe Day.

And Franks did plenty of damage, smashing the crossbar and causing panic in the Newport ranks, before Aaron Tshibola crossed for Hugill to bundle over the line.

The scoreline was no less than Moore’s men deserved, but a thunderbolt from Darren Jones on the stroke of half time put Newport right back in it.

And joy became despair just three minutes after the restart, some sloppy defending allowing O’Connor to slot home his 11th goal of the campaign.

Unsurprisingly that led to concerted Newport pressure, the promotion candidates almost finding a winner, but Flinders saved brilliantly from Ismail Yakubu’s header, with the referee also turning down two Newport penalty appeals.

Despite that onslaught they survived – and Moore was again left raving about Franks, who was undoubtedly Pools’ chief dangerman.

“In the first half we were playing the balls in the right areas and looking to get inside the centre backs and Jonathan Franks looked like a constant threat,” added Moore.

“He might have had a hat-trick on another day, but we really needed to come in at two nil at half time and would have deserved to do so. But I can’t be disappointed with a draw.

“I’m pleased for Jordan Hugill getting his goal, it was a great ball in and he was in the right place at the right time, our front two never stopped working.

“Since we changed systems, our strikers have been fantastic for us.

“It’s a big result and now we prepare for Monday and then a massive game with York.”

Pools take on Southend at Victoria Park on Monday, with ticket prices reduced to £10 (£5 concessions) and are hoping for a bumper crowd to boost their survival fight.