"I WAS THERE"

In the battle of the two Uniteds Hartlepool may well have stretched their unbeaten run to nine games but Carlisle were certainly the happier after scrambling a last gasp point from the jaws of defeat.
Pool were by far the better footballing side over the ninety minutes but the Cumbrians never gave up the fight on a heavy pitch that was only marginally playable.
Pool started the game attacking the drier end of the pitch and moved the ball around well. The first opening came on 6 minutes when Kevin Henderson's shot on the turn was comfortably saved by Matty Glennon low down to his left.
For all Hartlepool's possession the Cumbrians were looking dangerous on the break. Carlisle manager Ian Atkins had to hastily pencil in Carl Heggs into the starting line up when Ian Stevens was suddenly taken ill just before kick off. The big forward duly took his opportunity by giving the Cumbrians the lead on 17 minutes, heading home Mick Galloway's in-swinging corner.
Pool came close to levelling things when Paul Arnison cut inside on 23 minutes only to see his left foot shot fly just wide.
The home sides neat passing game did not lend itself to a heavy pitch, as they became bogged down, over elaborating at times. They struggled to service the front two who were being comfortably snuffed out by the Cumbrians well organised defence.
Chris Turner changed his formation at half time, pushing three up front and it paid immediate dividends with an equaliser in the first minute of the restart.
Henderson's shot was well blocked by Glennon only for the rebound to fall to Craig Midgley who swept home from 10 yards.
Eight minutes later Pool took a deserved lead when a flowing move down the left saw Mark Tinlkler's cross headed home by Paul Arnison.
The home side were now well on top with the Cumbrians finding it difficult to get forward, unable at times to get the ball away from their boggy penalty area.
Although Pool had a considerable amount of the possession the nearest they came to a third goal was a 76th minute Tommy Miller shot which went just wide.
Carlisle had hardly mounted a significant attack in the second half but the introduction of former Hartlepool striker Steve Halliday proved to be a turning point. Deep into injury time the little forward got away down the right and when the home defence failed to clear his cross Scott Dobie pounced to hammer home an unlikely equaliser.
Ian Atkins was certainly the happier of the two managers. He said: "I thought for the first 45 minutes we were well on top and always looked as if we would get a second goal. Again we were done for a ten minute period where Hartlepool were the stronger side, where the showed a little bit more power and pace and got the ball into the areas where we had hurt them in the first half, by getting the ball wide."
Chris Turner said: "I am disappointed not to win but the pitch was a great leveller, but we are still unbeaten in nine games and that is a great run."