Hartlepool United brought an end to their four-match losing streak when they drew 1-1 at Eastleigh.

Reyes Cleary’s brilliant strike on the half-hour put a much-changed Pools in front at the Silverlake Stadium but, just like Tuesday’s visit to AFC Fylde, they could not hold on to their lead, with Tyrese Shade bringing the Spitfires level before the break.

Both sides were denied by the woodwork in the second half in the Hampshire sunshine but a draw, the 15th of the season for Pools, was probably a fair outcome.

Anthony Limbrick’s team slipped to 15th in the table after being overtaken by Solihull Moors, who are up next at the Prestige Group Stadium next Saturday.

Limbrick rang the changes for the long away trip, bringing in Dan Dodds, Jamie Miley, Adam Campbell, Cleary and Mani Dieseruvwe into the starting XI.

Dieseruvwe had two headed chances within the space of seconds to give his side a fourth-minute lead. However, his first attempt was cleared off the line before his second went the wrong side of the post.

There was another opening on 24 minutes, this time for Joe Grey, who tried to convert a header from a Cleary cross but his effort from close-range went over the bar.

But Pools were not to be denied on the half-hour by a moment of Cleary magic.

Miley found the on-loan attacker in-field and when the forward pulled the trigger 25 yards out, his shot rocketed past the home keeper.

At Fylde on Tuesday, Pools conceded eight minutes after going in front and here it was 12 minutes.

Shade got the better of Billy Sass-Davies, prompting Adam Smith to come out of his goal where he was chipped by the Eastleigh forward.

In the second half, Pools continued to have chances and were denied in the 57th minute when home sub Paul McCallum made an immediate impact by blocking Grey’s effort off the line.

Pools were thwarted by the woodwork when Louis Stephenson, an early sub for the injured Dodds, hit the post.

At the other end, Spitfires midfielder Ben Close rattled Smith’s crossbar from long range before sub Corey Panter went wide with a volley.

Pools kept going and Nathan Sheron’s shot was blocked by Ludwig Francillette before Cleary saw an effort deflected onto the home bar.

But there was to be more drama in the away box at the death.

Smith saved his side with a good save from Shade, with the Spitfires looking favourites to snatch a winner through McCallum, but a magnificent piece of last-ditch defending by David Ferguson denied last season’s golden boot winner.

Pools: Smith, Sass-Davies, Parkes, Ferguson, Dodds (Stephenson 8), Sheron, Miley (Featherstone 77), Reyes, Campbell, Grey, Dieseruvwe

Subs (not used): Foster, Waterfall, Hunter, Charman, Folarin