Source: Team_Talk
Dons held by gallant Pools
The Dons fielded seven new signings and lacked cohesion as they struggled to break down the well-drilled Pools rearguard, who were well worth their point.
Hartlepool dominated the first half and Leon McSweeney came within a whisker of poking in skipper Sam Collins' long throw before Gary Liddle planted a free header wide from Jon-Andre Fredriksen's 20th minute corner.
The Dons' only threat in the first period came from stand-in skipper Jemal Johnson, who blasted two long-range efforts just wide and had a penalty appeal waved away on the half-hour mark after going down under a challenge from Hartlepool full-back Steve Haslam.
Denis Behan blew a golden opportunity to put the visitors ahead six minutes after the break when the unmarked Pools' striker missed his kick from 15 yards.
The Dons piled forward in the closing stages and former Plymouth defender Mat Doumbe twice headed just over the bar before Jason Puncheon's fierce 25-yard free-kick was brilliantly tipped over by goalkeeper Scott Flinders to earn Hartlepool a point.
