Pools show they’re a match for Rovers
FOREST GREEN 1 HARTLEPOOL 1
OMAR Bogle was on the scoresheet once again as Hartlepool United battled to a point in their visit to League Two leaders Forest Green Rovers.
With the hosts looking to take another step towards the title and promotion, Pools would have been expected to ride something of a storm in the opening 45 minutes.
But Graeme Lee’s men more than matched Rovers all over the pitch during a surprisingly uneventful half.
It was Lee’s side that came closest to opening the scoring as Tom Crawford linked up with Bogle before seeing a shot drift narrowly beyond the post.
The only real threat provided by the league leaders came when Jack Aitchison’s low drive was kept out by a firm hand from Pools number one Ben Killip.
Rovers upped the tempo in the opening stages of the second-half and took the lead eight minutes after the restart.
Pools looked to have diverted any danger when Bogle cleared a cornerkick – but Regan Hendry pounced on the loose ball and crashed a stunning effort beyond Killip from just outside of the area.
Pools reacted well to falling behind with Jamie Sterry and David Ferguson at the heart of their play as they took the game to their hosts.
An equaliser arrived just after the midway point of the half as Crawford’s stunning pass released Bogle into the right-hand side of the area and he made no mistake with a low, driven finish from around ten yards.
There was a late scare for Pools as Rovers pushed forward looking for a winner, but they were left frustrated as Killip got something on a Josh March header and sent it over the bar.
The two sides swapped chances in the closing stages with substitute Joe Grey firing wide for Pools and Nicky Cadden narrowly failing to convert at the far post for the hosts.
But parity remained in place when the full-time whistle was blown as Pools reflected on a dogged display against a side that may well be in League One next season.
FOREST GREEN ROVERS: Mcgee, Sweeney, Moore-taylor, Cargill, Wilson, Hendry, Adams, Cadden, Aitchison (Young), Matt (Mcateer), March Subs: Thomas, Bernard, Bunker, Diallo, Allen
HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Killip, Sterry, Byrne, Liddle, Odusina, Ferguson, Shelton (White), Morris, Crawford, Carver (Grey), Bogle (Fletcher) Subs: Bilokapic, Ogle, Featherstone, Smith