After playing 75 minutes with a man down, Hartlepool United battled for a point at home to Eastleigh on Saturday afternoon.

Lennie Lawrence made one change to his Pools team that were defeated by league leaders York City last time out.

That change was enforced as captain Luke Waterfall returned to the defence, replacing Billy Sass-Davies who dropped out due to a head injury.

New signings Matthew Bondswell and Kazenga LuaLua were named on the bench, alongside Jack Hunter having returned from a knee injury.

Pools looked dangerous early on as Adam Campbell forced a big save from the Eastleigh keeper, while Waterfall slammed an effort over.

However, things went wrong in the 15th minute when Dan Dodds slid in on Jake Vokins, seeing red in the process.

Despite being a man down, Pools hit Eastleigh on the counter-attack several times, though the Spitfires defence blocked out a number of shots.

There was an opening for the away side in the 34th minute, when a swinging cross found Vokins at the back post, but Brad Young was alert and made a superb stop.

The second half lacked much goalmouth action as the clock ticked down at 0-0.

Pools broke dangerously through Campbell, but Luke Charman’s driven cross was gathered by the keeper with Mani Dieseruvwe lurking.

Lawrence sent on Hunter and LuaLua on 68 minutes as Pools searched for the opener that just wouldn’t come.

With four minutes to go, a direct ball forward reached Dieseruvwe but his snapshot fell wide of the mark.

And in added time, there was a fantastic opportunity to find the winner. LuaLua’s cross was nodded down by Dieseruvwe, but Charman’s effort at point-blank range was blocked by the keeper.

The game finished goalless, with Pools next in action at Solihull Moors on November 23.

Pools: Young, Dodds, Waterfall, Parkes, Ferguson, Featherstone, Sheron, Campbell (Hunter 68’), Charman, Dieseruvwe, Grey (LuaLua 68’)

Subs (not used): Smith, Onariase, Bondswell, Mancini, Mathurin