HALF-TIME: Hartlepool United and Carlisle United goalless at the break

The visitors have enjoyed the better chances in the first-half of their Sky Bet League Two match but couldn’t find a way past Scott Flinders.

Struggling Pools’ best chance came from Marlon Harewood who fired inches over the bar with a well-hit effort.

Colin Cooper had made two changes with Harewood and Darren Holden in, with the injured Jack Compton missing and Jonathan Franks on the bench.

Harewood partnered top scorer Charlie Wyke up front for third-bottom Pools against bottom-side Carlisle with Holden left wing.

On-loan Middlesbrough utility man David Atkinson missed the match with a slight hamstring strain, player coach Sam Collins returning to the bench.

There was no return to Victoria Park for Antony Sweeney, the midfielder left the club in the summer to sign for Carlisle.

But he missed out today with a shoulder injury.

Pools, shooting towards the Rink End in the first-half, started with intent and Holden was quick to pick up a loose ball on the left wing.

He burst into the box before cutting it back to Brad Walker on the edge of the area but his well-struck shot was blocked.

Three minutes later and Steven Rigg was almost in for Keith Curle’s Carlisle.

A lack of communication between captain Matthew Bates and Scott Flinders almost saw Rigg sneak in before Bates poked the ball out for a corner.

The best chance for either side came in the 10th minute, dangerman David Amoo with a cross from the right-wing towards Rigg, whose downward header from six-yards was just about scooped up by Flinders.

It was a lively start but it was the away side looking the more dangerous and creating the clearer chances.

For the second time in a week Pools could have been two down in the opening 15 minutes.

Carlisle defender Troy Archibald-Henville was booked by referee Darren Bond in the 16th minute after the second clinical foul on Wyke of the match.

Bond played on before eventually booking the centre-half.

Pools grew into the game but too many passes were going astray in good positions at a nervy Victoria Park.

The 25th minute saw Pools produce some good build-up play which eventually saw Michael Duckworth whip in a cross from the right wing.

The ball bounced off a Carlisle defender and Wyke just couldn’t quite arch his head to make a better connection with the ball.

In the space of 30 seconds Danny Grainger was booked for a foul on Ryan Brobbel and Holden for a rugby tackle on Amoo by referee Bond, who was having a good game and letting play flow.

Busy Carlisle midfielder Kyle Dempsey then flashed a shot wide of Flinders’ left stick on the half-hour mark.

The ball spent a fair bit of its time in the Pools penalty area, with the away side looking far more likely to open the scoring.

Pools, on the other hand, barely mustered a shot on target with Cooper’s men lacking in goals and confidence.

That was until the 41st minute when a lovely chipped ball from Miller found Wyke inside the area, he nodded it down to Harewood who shot just inches over the bar.

It was a good effort and the best Pools had mustered all half.

There was a lengthy stoppage moments later to allow Neil Austin to get treatment after taking a hevay knock to his head inside the area. He was fit to carry on though.

The sides went into the break goalless.

Half Time: Pools 0 Carlisle 0

Pools (4-4-2): Flinders, Duckworth, Harrison, Bates (C), Austin, Brobbel, Miller, Walker, Holden, Wyke, Harewood.

Subs: Woodman, Richards, Jones, Collins, Hawkins, Woods, Franks.

Booked: Holden

Carlisle (4-4-2): Hanford, White, Archibald-Henville, Thirlwell (C), Grainger, Amoo, Potts, Dempsey, Brough, Beck, Rigg.

Subs: Caig, Paynter, Dicker, Gillies, Symington, O’Hanlon, Elliott.

Booked: Archibald-Henville, Grainger.

Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire)