FOUR days after being labelled one of the best goalkeepers in the division, by his manager, Hartlepool United No 1 Anthony Williams showed just why.

Williams gave a superb display to earn Pool a point at Cambridge and help his teammates reach the 60-point barrier before the season is six months old. In all of last season in reaching the play-offs Pool managed 71.

Last Tuesday, an injury time stop secured three points at Macclesfield; on Saturday he made three saves within five second-half minutes to stop Cambridge scoring.

"He won Tuesday's game for us and we know what he is capable of,'' said Mike Newell. "Sometimes he can be a little bit lax, but we know how good he is.

"He is a steady goalkeeper, one of the better in the division and he makes important saves - we just have to keep on top of him a little bit."

Getting on top of Cambridge attackers has been a problem for Third Division keepers this season, but not Williams. The home side have scored in every League game this season - two games with Pool apart.

A 3-0 Victoria Park win over Cambridge on December 28 was the start of a six-game unbeaten run which has put Pool in the healthiest of positions at the third division peak, six points ahead of second placed Rushden and 15 in front of third placed Scunthorpe.

And during this run Pool's defence has only been breached twice, once each against Carlisle and Oxford. "The back four, or five including me, have played together for so long we know each others game,'' said Williams. "We know one is going to head it, one is going to drop off, the full backs come in and help out as well - the understanding is there.

"We've got six points in front of Rushden, but their goal difference is one better than ours. It might come down to that at the end, we don't know, but we just want to keep going and keep picking up points.

"We've kept three clean sheets in a row away from home and I think we are a lot more solid in away games. We are suited to defending away from home because at home we like to go forward more and leave a few more spaces at the back. When we are away we are a lot more organised and tighter.

"At the start of the second-half they came at us a bit and other than that we coped well. I had a busy time and if one had gone in it would have been so different.''

He added: "We've kept another clean sheet and kept them out. I'm proud of those saves. It's two clean sheets in a row and I will do everything I can to help us to promotion.

"It's nice to play behind such a good defence. We had people getting stuck in and blocking things - Robbo took one where it hurts - everyone is pulling their weight. And we have people going foward who will always create chances and score goals.''

Williams, who won last season's North-East save of the season award for his double stop at York, has his Victoria Park critics and revealed an exchange of words with some of the near 600 travelling contingent. "Some of our fans weren't happy in the first half and I gave them a piece of my mind,'' he admitted.

"They were getting on our backs a little bit. They have been great at home and have been rewarded, but away from home you cannot expect to go and beat teams three and four every week.

"It was a bit of a battle and the important thing is that we haven't lost."

Williams' three saves came at the start of the second period. Top scorer Kitson had time to direct his effort high to the keeper's right, but he went full stretch to claw it out.

Then he denied Youngs who drove the ball low only for Williams to block with his legs before racing of his line to close down Luke Gutteridge after the wing back found the ball at his feet and the goal gaping.

As much as Williams took Saturday's plaudits, it was also down to some decent work from the back line in front of him.

Chris Westwood and Graeme Lee in the middle were exceptional - Westwood especially in the first-half - and with Micky Barron and Mark Robinson refusing to be beaten, the hard earned point was a welcome one.

Many Sunday reports claimed Pool 'could only manage a point' at Cambridge. Well not many teams will 'only manage a point' at the Abbey Stadium or stop the home side scoring.

And the point was enough to extend Pool's lead at the top.

One slip-up from the keeper, spilling a high cross, let in Omar Riza but Robinson was covering to knock the ball off the line.

At the opposite end diminutive Martin Brennan was making his first start and after one moment of uncertainty when he stayed on his line as Marcus Richardson homed in on goal, he grew in stature like Williams.

The keeper did well to keep out efforts from substitute Adam Boyd and later Ritchie Humphreys.

Result: Cambridge United 0 Hartlepool United 0.

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