An awayday trip to watch Hartlepool United was starting to look as appealing as a weekend of sun-bathing in Baghdad.

Pools hadn't managed to bag a point on their travels since Millwall in early November, with the self-destruct button on auto fire at Carlisle, Swindon, Yeovil and Gillingham.

But their run of six consecutive away defeats came to a resounding end after they snatched a point from the Cobblers of Northampton - in a game that could easily have seen either side claiming all three points.

Pools were the better team for much of the game, controlling possession and showing more glimpses of quality.

Danny Wilson would have been left to do some serious soul-searching had the Cobblers managed to grab a winner, but as it was a point apiece was probably fair on the balance of chances.

Two goals from first-half corners set the game up for an end-to-end second period where both sides managed to miss sitters which the grannies of the vast proportion of the 4,636 crowd could have scored.

And there was one player whose shaven head stood above the rest at both ends of the pitch - Ben Clark.

The returning centre-half grabbed the equaliser on the stroke of half-time when he showed glimpses of a skin-headed Kevin Keegan by stroking the ball into the corner of the net with effortless ease.

It could have been even better for Clark had he taken the chance that fell his way 15 minutes earlier, but the finish while he lay sprawled on the floor from a corner went inches wide of the post.

It was at the other end of the pitch that Clark really made his presence felt though.

The jittery, error-prone displays from the back four in recent games went out the window as Clark steadied the ship with a commanding performance.

Header after header was won by Big Ben and his calming influence seemed to settle Michael Nelson who was back to his imposing best.

Their display kept Northampton striker and rumoured Pools transfer target Andy Kirk as quiet as a mouse.

It is understood that Wilson has no interest in the frontman and this showing suggested the boss is spot on by not considering a move.

The restoration of the Nelson/Clark axis was not the only positive at the back.

Wilson had sprung a surprise before kick-off by naming Arran Lee-Barrett ahead of Jan Budtz and he paid his manager back big time.
After a nervy opening few minutes when Lee-Barrett horrendously sliced a clearance, the rookie keeper showed poise and confidence to command his box.

Twice in the second-half Lee-Barrett came to his side's rescue by spreading himself like a hawk to foil a Giles Coke header and then stop his former Norwich team-mate Ian Henderson who was clean through on goal.

But for all of Pools' good work at the back, it was the same old mistakes that reared their ugly head after 15 minutes.

Clark was booked for clattering on-loan Ipswich striker Dean Bowditch and Northampton won a corner from the resulting free-kick.

Daniel Jones hit a high, floating ball to the far post, which looked meat and drink for the Pools defence.

But the Cobblers won the ball in the air, knocking it back towards goal and centre-half Liam Dolman was left to smash the ball into the net from six yards out.

David Foley, preferred to James Brown on the right, was the most likely to get Pools back into the game with a brace of chances falling his way.

First, he shot wide after Ritchie Humphreys flicked a Robbie Elliott corner into his path and then a 20-yard deflected shot was comfortably saved by Cobblers keeper Mark Bunn

Ian Moore didn't have the best of games in front of goal and he gave a hint of things to come when he should have done a lot better after a flowing Pools move.

Humphreys picked up the ball on the halfway line and made a beeline towards the Cobblers defence.

He laid the ball off to Gary Liddle who found Moore, unmarked on the left-hand side of the box. But the former Leeds man sacrificed power for precision and gave the keeper a far too easy save.

Pools piled on the pressure as the half drew to its close and were much the better team with some flowing, passing moves.

Just as it looked like the Cobblers would take in an undeserved lead, Pools drew level.

Elliott whipped in an inswinging corner from the right and the ball found Willie Boland on the edge of the area.

His scuffed half-volley eluded the attention of Moore and Richard Barker, but not Clark who side-footed into the bottom corner.

Both teams upped the pace in the second period, with neither side content to settle for a draw.

Wilson introduced Brown and Matty Robson from the bench and both widemen created chances which could so easily have dropped into the back of the net.

Brown somehow unearthed a ball from near the corner flag while under pressure and found Moore whose chip looked like it was heading into the top corner, only for it to smash off the upright at the last second.

Robson then took on the mantle of feeding Moore. The winger looked
impressive for the reserves in mid-week and built on that performance with another performance that showed plenty of pace and an end-product.

The wideman raced down space on the left-flank and slightly miscued a cross into the six-yard box for Moore. The only question seemed to be whether the stewards could hold back the onlooking Pools fans as the ball bust the net, but Moore scuffed his finish wide of the post.

The chance came just two minutes after Northampton had contrived to miss a sitter of their own. Bowditch crossed for the unmarked Henderson six yards out who could only smash it over the bar.

Lee-Barrett was called into action twice in the closing stages.

First he blocked Coke's diving header from a dangerous free-kick and then came out to stop Henderson's run as he bore down on goal after shrugging off the attentions from Humphreys.

With three minutes to go, Robson was bundled over in the box and there were strong calls from Pools and Wilson for a spot-kick, but referee Mike Russell shook his head.

A draw at least ensured Pools managed to avoid notching up not-so magnificent seven defeats.

HOW POOLS RATED
Lee-Barrett, 8, Nolan, 6, Nelson, 7, Clark, 8, Elliott, 6 (Robson, 7), Boland, 6, Liddle, 7, Humphreys, 6, Foley, 6 (Brown, 7), Moore, 6, Barker, 6 (Porter)