Pools drew 1-1 with Whitley Bay this evening in an entertaining game which was dominated by Chris Turner's men.

Pools were dominant from the off at Hillheads Park and could well have opened the scoring inside the first ten minutes.

A long ball up field from the lively Andy Monkhouse was met by Adam Boyd who sent a glancing header goalwards only to see it edge just wide of the left post.

With 17 minutes on the clock, Pools pressure paid off when an Evan Horwood corner from the right was met by Sam Collins who rose highest to head home.

Pools continued to play some good football, creating chances and working the home defence hard.

Turner's men threatened most from set pieces, with a number of Fabian Yantorno corner kicks causing problems for Whitley Bay; one cleared off the line by David Pounder after a Monkhouse flick on.

Yantorno also tried his luck with a cheeky chipped effort which dipped just over the bar as Pools kept Whitley Bay pinned in their own half for much of the first forty five.

Scott Flinders saw his first meaningful piece of the action just after the break when Lee Kerr sent a freekick from 25 yards at goal but the Pools stopper reacted well to claw the effort round the post.

A Yantorno corner from the left almost set up the second goal for Pools when Antony Sweeney rose to meet it but his header went just wide of target.

James Brown, on as a sub in place of Adam Boyd, unleashed an effort from outside the area which just skimmed wide of the far post.

There was a scare for Pools at the other end when a long ball forward sent Adam Johnston running in on goal and, with Flinders rushing out to the edge of the area, the Whitley Bay forward had an empty target to aim for but Johnston sent his effort high over the bar.

Pools were left wondering how they had not added to their tally in this second half as they piled the pressure on the home defence and when Gary Liddle found himself in possession inside the area, a second looked on the cards but the defender sent his low effort just wide.

Despite the pressure from Pools, Whitley Bay grabbed an equaliser late in the game; Adam Johnston twisted and turned his way forward under pressure from Neil Austin before laying the ball into the path of Phil Bell who sent a low effort past Flinders to make it 1-1.

The goal was a disappointment for Pools who had completely dominated possession but just failed to turn it into goals.

It seemed it was not to be Pools' day in front of goal though when a Joe Gamble corner was headed back into the mix by James Brown where Monkhouse was on hand to smack at goal but somehow the winger saw his effort blocked on the line and the danger cleared.

The game finished all square but it was an improved display from Pools who should have scored more goals this evening.

Full Time: Whitley Bay 1 Pools 1

Att: 302

Whitley Bay: Kindley (Burke 65), Gibson, Pounder, Williams (Smith 63), Rowe (Bell 60), Cornforth (Goodman 79), Waite (Robinson 51), Robson (McMullen 75), Kerr (McFarlane 78), Johnston, Chow (Ormston 51)
Subs Not Used: None

Pools: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Liddle, Horwood, McSweeney (Gamble 46), Sweeney, Murray (Hartley 70), Monkhouse, Yantorno (Larkin 75), Boyd (Brown 57)
Subs Not Used: Rafferty, Bjornsson, Behan, Haslam