Pools completely bossed tonight's clash with Gillingham at Victoria Park but in the end had to come from behind to settle for a point.
After controlling the great majority of possession this evening, Pools found themselves a goal down in the 70th minute with a Neil Austin goal grabbing a much-needed point for Chris Turner's men in the end.
To say Pools dominated this opening period at The Vic is an understatement as Chris Turner's men barley let their visitors touch the ball in the first forty-five minutes.
Pools began their assault on The Gills from the first minute - Joe Gamble again strong in midfield, feeding the ball into the box where Colin Larkin headed into the path of Denis Behan - Alan Julian collected this early effort but the pressure persisted.
The positive start to the game by Turner's side was matched by a similar mood from the crowd, who voiced their support from the terraces.
Peter Hartley, recalled to the eleven after serving a three-match suspension, looked determined to make up for lost time with a battling and full-blooded display.
With Pools pushing forward at every opportunity, there were balls into the box from a succession of players - Austin, Gamble, Larkin and Monkhouse all trying to send that killer ball in.
Hartley then fed Behan down the left and the Irish striker headed down well into the path of the in-running Monkhouse. The winger went through one-on-one with Julian but the keeper blocked well with his body and Pools settled for the corner.
Ritchie Humphreys sent a teasing freekick in from the right wing but in the end it was Julian who came out on top as he rose well to snatch possession from the air.
As the enthusiasm continued, Monkhouse went on a mazy run only to be tripped right on the edge of the area, while Monkhouse went on to lift a brilliant ball in from the right wing with his left foot which found Humphreys in a great position inside the box.
And while Humphreys did meet the ball, his swing at goal was deflected wide of target.
Joe Gamble came closest to opening the scoring for Pools and capping another solid display when he rifled in a low drive from just outside the box - his effort left the visiting keeper rooted but the ball scraped just wide of the post.
There were a couple of chances for the visitors - both falling to Tristan Plummer. The first came in the 15th minute when he twisted past Hartley to shoot from an angle but Flinders collected.
His second chance caused a heart in mouth situation for the Pools fans as Plummer went through on goal to slide the ball in but fortunately his effort went just wide of target and Pools were not punished going into the break.
While Gillingham may have been hoping for some respite in the second half, they were to be disappointed as Pools maintained their pressure.
There was a great chance for the lively Sweeney when a Humphreys corner kick was headed on by Hartley to the midfielder but his point-blank header was headed back off the line by Kevin Maher as the visitors battled on.
For all of Pools' possession and pressure in the final third - that breakthrough was proving elusive despite the best efforts being made - and, as time went on, Gillingham could perhaps sense a way into the game.
One foray forward for the visitors saw Rene Howe flash a ball at goal, which went just wide of Flinders' right hand post.
Gamble, showing his fighting spirit again this evening, went on a good run down the right wing to send a dangerous ball into the box which Sweeney met to fire at goal, but he saw his chance go high over the bar.
And then the unthinkable happened for Pools once again as the visitors turned Pools' possession on its head by grabbing the opening goal.
A ball into the box found Simeon Jackson in space and he rose to send a looping header over Flinders and into the bottom left corner of the net - a goal met with stunned silence inside The Vic.
The silence lifted 9 minutes later though - thanks to Neil Austin; the right back sent a shot at goal from outside the box which sailed through the area, past Julian and into the back of the net, much to the relief of Pools.
Austin linked well with Colin Larkin down the right just minutes later, with the latter playing a good ball for sub Ritchie Jones to run on to but Jones' shot from a tight angle was caught by Julian.
Pools continued to press for a big winner, with Gamble and Larkin both trying their luck and Adam Boyd sending a dangerous ball across goal but Gillingham dug in and left The Vic with a share of the spoils.
Att: 2465 (78 away)
Pools: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Liddle, Hartley, Larkin, Sweeney, Gamble, Humphreys (Jones 65), Monkhouse, Behan (Boyd 71)
Subs Not Used; Cook, Clark, Haslam, Fredrikse, Bjornsson
Gillingham: Julian, Fuller, Maher, Bentley, Jackson, Barcham (Yussuff 83), Wynter, Payne, Howem, Dennehy, Plummer (Rooney 59)
Subs Not Used: Royce, Nutter, Lewis, Miller, Oli
