A courageous second-half display saw ten-man Pools hold on for a share of the spoils at Huddersfield Town this evening.
Ritchie Jones' goal cancelled out an early Town opener but the sending off of Daniel Nardiello early in the second half looked to have snatched away Pools chances of anything from the game.
The players though had other ideas and a spirited defensive display, which saw every player throw their weight into defending the goal saw Pools leave the Galpharm Stadium with a crucial point.
Pools away fortunes looked set to be heading down that all too familiar track when, after good early pressure, Huddersfield Town took the lead after just 8 minutes of play.
Lionel Ainsworth was the big threat for the hosts from the off, showing a great turn of pace and enthusiasm down the right wing.
And it was Ainsworth who started off the move that led to Huddersfield's early opener; the lively winger picked up possession on the edge of the box and poked it through for Andy Butler who fired a pacy ball across the face of goal where Michael Nelson stuck out his foot to try and deny the goal but saw the ball take a cruel deflection into the back of his own net.
Lee Clark's side really came out with all guns blazing as they pinned Pools right back into their own half - with Ainsworth at the centre of the majority of moves and Anthony Pilkington doing his fair share on the opposite flank.
Pools did break well in the 16th minute - it was good work down the left wing for Matty Robson which led to the chance. The left winger ran in on goal before firing into the box and, while his effort was blocked out, it fell kindly to Daniel Nardiello who struck at goal only to be denied by a good Alex Smithies block.
But the majority of Pools' work in the early period of this first half was done at the back as |Turner's men were made to work hard to keep things at 1-0.
And the hosts went very close to making it 2-0 when Robbie Williams put the ball into the area for Keigan Parker was waiting to fire at goal - despite picking out his spot though, the striker saw his effort scrape just over Lee-Barrett's bar.
Seconds later and there was another chance for Huddersfield; fancy footwork by Ainsworth on the right side of the box led to the winger rifling a fierce ball which flashed right across the face of the Pools' goal, narrowly escaping the attentions of several outstretched feet.
Turner's men had to rely on the break to create chances but used it well when they did get the chance.
Pools broke forward just after the half hour mark after good work by Tony Sweeney on the right wing - he played it neatly through for Joel Porter who in turn squared for Ritchie Jones.
Jones spotted for Manchester United teammate Nardiello running in on goal and picked him out with a good ball but despite leaving the defender behind him, Nardiello's final ball saw the ball go just wide of the Town goal.
Minutes later though and Nardiello returned the favour for Jones with more success; determination by the on-loan striker on the left wing saw him push infield before squaring it for Jones just on the edge of the box.
Jones picked out his spot before firing in a composed effort past Smithies and into the back of the net to draw Pools level with ten minutes to the break.
And so Pools went into the second half on level terms after coping with waves of strong pressure from the hosts in the first period and would be looking to build on the equaliser in the second forty five.
But the second half started poorly for Pools when, with just five minutes on the clock, Nardiello ran through onto a one-on-one with Smithies and went in to challenge for the ball. Although the challenge by the Pools striker may have been strong, it did not seem to deserve the extreme reaction from the Huddersfield players who ran in in numbers to confront the striker - but referee Mr Deadman reacted quickly to produce his red card and send Nardiello off.
The sending off gave the hosts a lift and they began to really press at the other end; Parker saw his bullet header scrape over the bar while Phil Jevons fired over when in space.
Arran Lee-Barrett pulled off a great save to deny Michael Collins who fired in with pace from the edge of the box, while the keeper did well to hold a shot from Ainsworth from the right later in the half.
Pools had to set out their stall to defend in numbers - and with Joel Porter now playing as the loan striker, that is what happened.
Ben Clark did well to intercept a dangerous ball in to the box from Pilkington on the left, while Lee-Barrett was brave to snatch the ball from the feet of Parker after another good ball in from Pilkington.
The Pools' stopper came out on top again minutes later to deny Pilkington with a stinging shot from the edge of the box.
And, despite spending most of their time in their own half, Turner's men seemed to be coping with the threat of Huddersfield Town.
Michael Nelson put in a great challenge to snatch possession away from sub Ian Craney with ten minutes remaining and the big defender made sure the same player lost out in the challenge just a minute later as Pools worked hard to hold on for the draw.
As the hosts looked more desperate to grab a winner, Pilkington sent a curling effort way over the bar and both Nelson and Clark put in solid last-ditch tackles inside the area to keep Town at bay.
In a nervy finale to the game, Humphreys headed away the danger after yet another Pilkington ball into the area, while Collins sent his effort from inside the box high over the bar.
The four minutes additional time added to the nerves for Pool sand when Parker sent a dipping effort over Lee-Barrett, it was hearts-in-mouth time for Pools but the ball went just wide of the far post.
With just one minute of injury time remaining, Andy Butler headed over the bar from point blank range as Pools led a somewhat charmed life - an stinging effort from Ainsworth late in the game scraped the crossbar as it narrowly missed target.
And so Pools held on for a crucial point at The Galpharm Stadium this evening - a courageous second half display ensuring Chris Turner's men share the spoils in a game tainted by the sending off of Daniel Nardiello.
Huddersfield Town: Smithies, Holdsworth, Collins, N Clarke, Cadamarteri, Goodwin, Jevons (Craney 74), Williams (Werling 87), Butler, Pilkington, Ainsworth
Subs Not Used: Glennon, Parker, T Clarke, Berrett
Pools: Lee-Barrett, McCunnie, Nelson, Clark, Humphreys, Sweeney, Liddle, Jones, Robson, Nardiello, Porter (Henderson 80)
Subs Not Used: Budtz, Collins, Power, Mackay
