Ebbsfleet 0 Hartlepool 0: Pools edge closer to National League play-off spots with hard-fought point

Despite a lively encounter at the Kuflink Stadium the game ended goalless in Kent, as the result saw Pools remain in the same spot in the table - 13th. But they did close the gap on seventh-placed Gateshead to 11 points with 12 games left to play in the fifth tier.

On the selection front manager Craig Hignett named an unchanged side, following Pools' remarkable, surprise 4-0 win at Boreham Wood at the weekend.

The Fleet had Pools on the rack in the opening exchanges as a last ditch tackle from Aaron Cunningham prevented an opener before Michael Cheek skewed an effort past Scott Loach's far post when put clean through by striker partner Cody McDonald, who succumbed to injury soon after.

A constant thorn in the Ebbsfleet side was Luke James, snapping at ankles, as ever, and pressure defenders into errors.

He carved out an opportunity of his own when he hassled to win the ball out on the wing before skipping past two men and firing at goal. The striker's effort, though, was wide.

Nicke Kabamba, fresh from his two-goal show at Meadow Park on Saturday, had little joy with direct balls up to him in the opening 45, but he showed his aerial prowess from a Liam Noble corner, stooping low to somehow divert a cross goalwards, but the effort skided just wide.

And with that miss, the half ended goalless, with Pools probably happier with their performance than the hosts, who were frustrated in the main by some resolute Hartlepool defending. The only chink in the armour was Danny Amos' defensive vulnerability, which Fleet attempted to exploit at every opportunity with balls over the top.

Into the second 45, Jack Payne came within inches of making it 1-0 after a positive opening for the home side. His free-kick looked in from the minute he stroked it over the Pools wall from 30 yards with Scott Loach unmoved, but it missed the target.

Despite the hosts' dominance of possession after the break, Pools did not lose their ambition, with Kabamba and James continuing to prove a nuisance.

And it was the on-loan Havant man who produced the biggest moment in front of goal at either end with just 10 minutes remaining.

A searching free-kick from half way was won by Myles Anderson, and the ball dropped to Kabamba, who curled left-footed at goal. From the minute he hit it looked destined for the top corner only for Nathan Ashmore to tip over acrobatically. Not bad for a big lad.

With five minutes remaining the game really opened up at both ends but it was Pools who looked the most likely to win it - James was played in by Noble but saw a goal-bound effort clipped wide by a home defender.

And that was the way it ended - Pools securing their first point against Ebbsfleet in their four games against the side in the National League.