Whitby Hold Hartlepool To Friendly Draw

Hartlepool United are still without a win in pre-season after being held by non-league side Whitby Town tonight.

Neale Cooper selected a strong side to face the Seasiders, with Scott Flinders returning from injury to join Jack Baldwin, Sam Collins, Luke James, Paul Murray, Steve Howard and Colin Nish in the starting line-up.

However, it was the hosts who made the most of the early exchanges, Graham Armstrong testing Flinders with a good shot before a neat lob narrowly missed the target.

Howard blasted over from close range before Ritchie Humphreys forced a good save from the keeper and Nish's follow-up was hacked off the line.

Former Pools defender Mark Robinson made his mark on the game with a hard tackle on Baldwin, forcing the defender from the field with a gashed ankle.

Trialist Adam McHugh replaced Scott Flinders in goal at the break while Humphreys was again close to opening the scoring soon after the restart. Whitby managed to clear his goalbound effort, but Pools didn't have to wait much longer to break the deadlock.

Forgotten man Nathan Luscombe was brought on as a second half substitute and made an immediate impact, picking out Paul Murray at the edge of the box with the midfielder making the most of his rare run forward and slotting home.

But Pools were unable to hold on as striker Nathan Mulligan reacted quickest in a defensive scramble to help the ball past McHugh with minutes remaining of the game.

FT: Whitby 1 Hartlepool 1

Hartlepool: Flinders (McHugh 46), Baldwin (Richards 30), Collins, Johnson, Holden, James, Murray, Walton (Rowbotham 60), Humphreys, Howard, Nish (Luscombe 65).

Sub not used: Rutherford.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.