Draw leaves everyone frustrated

Both Neale Cooper and Paul Hart felt that their respective sides had done enough to win a stirring encounter.

In a first half that they largely dominated, Barnsley went in at half-time only one goal in front, but, despite their possession, they didn't seriously test Jim Provett until the 29th minute, when he dived low to his left to brilliantly turn away a low shot from Barry Conlon.

Barnsley took the lead in the 38th minute, when excellent play on the right by Antony Kay led to him drilling in a low cross which was turned in by Michael Chopra at the far post.

Hartlepool should really have equalised in the 41st minute, when great interplay between Ritchie Humphreys and Adam Boyd let in Joel Porter, who blazed wide from a good position.

The second half started much the same with plenty of Barnsley possession.

The turning point, though, came in the 65th minute when Boyd fed Porter on the left. The latter was brought down by Tony Vaughan who was shown the red card by referee R Oliver.

This was a debatable decision, but it swung the balance of the game in Hartlepool's favour.

Pool pushed forward in numbers forcing Barnsley to defend resolutely and it began to look as though the 10 men would hang on.

Barnsley finally cracked in the 79th minute, when very good play on the right let in substitute Steven Istead, whose deep cross was headed into the net by Boyd.

This set up a frantic last 10 minutes, but both sides had to settle for a hard fought draw, leaving the 5,119 paying punters to digest what might have been on their way home.