HARTLEPOOL United’s winless streak was extended to six games after they were pegged back by Notts County last night.
Gary Liddle’s goal looked enough to earn their first win since New Year’s Day, before Lee Hughes, who helped dump Sunderland out of the FA Cup earlier this month, levelled.
Pool were the better first-half side, but the half-time introduction of Hughes turned the game in the visitor’s favour.
The home side started on the front foot, not looking like a team struggling in front of goal, and carried on in that manner for the opening 45 minutes.
Andy Monkhouse turned a shot into the side netting from close range on just three minutes before new loan signing Ryan Donaldson made his first mark.
Newly signed from Newcastle 24 hours earlier, he was pitched into an instant debut in the forward line.
Antony Sweeney charged from deep, held up the ball and Donaldson latched onto the pass, but was crowded out by a pack of yellow shirts.
He then took his turn to bring others into play, feeding Monkhouse whose rising drive fizzed wide.
Notts’ first chance, as they sought to repeat the 3-0 win at Meadow Lane earlier this month when they last met, came when Ben Burgess met a Stephen Darby cross and headed over.
Gary Liddle and Krystian Pearce both had to go off for treatment after a bang of heads – and both only lasted a matter of minutes after returning, but both had an impact. Liddle got behind the static back line to meet a Neil Austin pass, took his time then slotted in from ten yards.
Then Donaldson looked to get in behind the back four, was in on goal inside the opposition half but was held back by the big defender.
Referee Oliver Langford took advice of an assistant before showing a yellow card, with Pool arguing the case for red.
Notts put Lee Hughes on at the break and he had a quick chance to level. John Thompson nodded down and the striker poked wide when he should have scored.
Peter Hartley was fouled by Hughes and when he returned the compliment was yellow carded.
Notts put Pool on the back foot and in a rare chance, Joe Gamble, Liddle’s replacement, took the ball past the defence, but his touch was heavy and he fired across the face of goal.
On 66 minutes, Notts midfielder Dave Martin got forward and his drive was kept out by a diving Kean.
And their pressure paid off on 69 minutes, Karl Hawley nodded down and Hughes tapped in from close range.
Pool’s best chance of a winner came on 81 minutes. Austin fed Gamble wide and carried on his gallop into the area, the cross was headed down by James Brown, but Austin got under the ball and sent it high over the bar.
And in injury time, a dipping shot from Monkhouse was kept out by diving keeper Nelson.
HARTLEPOOL: Kean, Austin, Collins, Hartley, Horwood, McSweeney (Boyd 84), Sweeney, Murray, Liddle (Gamble 46), Monkhouse, Donaldson (Brown 71). Subs (not used): Flinders, Humphreys, Yantorno, Haslam. Booked: Hartley.
Goals: Liddle 38.
NOTTS COUNTY: Nelson, Darby, Lee, Pearce (Hawley 44), Harley, Judge, Bishop, Thompson, Martin (Fairclough 89), Westcarr, Burgess (Hughes 46). Subs (not used): Burch, Smith, Spicer, Williamson.
Booked: Pearce. Goals: Hughes 69.
Referee: Oliver Langford (W Midlands) Attendance: 2,545
