HARTLEPOOL UNITED took a point at Morecambe to end their three-game losing streak.

But this was a missed opportunity against opposition who had lost their previous seven games.

And Newport's win at Exeter means Pools are now just three points ahead of the bottom two place with five games to go.

Pools were well on top in the first-half and had a deserved lead, but they never got going in the second period and were pegged back.

Rhys Oates, up front in a 4-4-2 formation for Pools, had two good chances. He headed over the bar from close range when he met a Nathan Thomas corner, and then sent a low shot into keeper Nizic after being teed up by Lewis Alessandra.

Pools took the lead on 40 minutes when a well-worked move saw Alessandra feed Padraig Amond to get in behind the defence and confidently push home his 14th goal of the season.

Joe Fryer saved well from Paul Mullin with his feet to keep the lead.

But the Shrimps were a fresh side for the second half. They started well, went on the front foot, and pressed Pools back.

Their defence, when Pools cleared, mopped up everything.

Amond had a chance when Oates set him up, but pushed his shot wide.

And the home side levelled on 59 minutes. A Kevin Ellison cross was blocked and as  the ball spun up, Mullin nodded in from close range.

From then on, it was always the home side more likely to get a second and Fryer saved well from Mullen, while the attacker pushed his finish wide from close range when he met a deep cross.

Michael Rose had a goalbound volley well blocked by Scott Harrison.

Pools’ best chance came at the end, Nicky Featherstone working his way to the edge of the penalty area. But rather than shooting, he played a loose pass to Michael Woods and  the chance went begging.

Jones said: “We should have had the points, we had enough of the game we need to stop the sloppiness.

“At times we try to overplay in certain areas.

“First half we totally dominated, second half fairly even and we could have scored tow to two up and they put theirs away to make it 11.

“It’s a good point, we worked hard for it at a tough place, a difficult place. It’s a good point.’’