HARTLEPOOL UNITED ended their run of four successive League Two defeats with a first draw of the season.

Pools drew 0-0 with Cambridge at Victoria Park, in a game which Ronnie Moore’s side were on top for the majority of it and were unfortunate not to win.

They created a welter of chances, with the visitors happy to sit deep with their five-man defence.

Nicky Feathertstone had an effort ruled out for offside, the midfielder finishing after the flag went up when he broke from deep.

The Us had one early chance when Nicky Demetriou had a header kept out by Adam Bartlett.

Rhys Oates passed to Michael Woods, but he mishit his shot and as the ball fell to Rakish Bingham his shot was well pushed out by keeper Chris Dunn.

Then Scott Harrison had a header cleared off the line from a corner. Billy Paynter, back in the side after a hamstring strain, went in on goal, but was smothered by Dunn.

Bradley Halliday, the right-back on loan from Middlesbrough, went on a mazy run from deep and was only denied by a fine Dunn save.

Leon Legge, the big Us defender, had a goalbound shot kept out of the Pools net by teammate Mark  Roberts.

Bingham had a couple of second half chances, but lacked some composure in front of goal and, while they pressed for a late winner, it didn’t arrive.

Pools boss Ronnie Moore revealed that right-back Michael Duckworth is facing an extended spell on the sidelines after damaging a hamstring in training this week.

Moore expects to extend the loan of defender Andrew Boyce on Monday.

 

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3): Bartlett; Halliday, Harrison, Boyce, Carroll; Woods (Walker 80), Bates, Featherstone; Bingham (Fenwick 67), Paynter, Oates. Subs: Worley, Oyenuga, Jones, Smith, Denton (gk).

CAMBRIDGE UNITED (5-3-1-1): Dunn; Omozusi, Legge, Roberts, Taft (Coulson 46), Demetriou; Newton, Berry, Dunk (Chiedozie 72); Blyth, Simpson (Hughes 56). Subs: Taylor, Slew, Beasant (gk), Morrissey.

Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Sunderland)

Attendance: 3,665