TWO years ago, while chasing promotion, Hartlepool United went to Boston and, in atrocious wintry conditions and on an atrocious surface, ground out a single goal win.

Having already managed it once, now they will have to call on that experience to do it for a second time in similar circumstances.

The only difference this time will be a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup is up for grabs and not league points, because, frustratingly for Pool, they couldn't find a way through the visitors.

It was the first time Pool had failed to score at home since September 2003 - this was the 55th Victoria Park game since the goalless draw with Brighton - and only the fourth time Neale Cooper had watched his side draw a blank in front of their own fans since he arrived at Victoria Park in summer 2003.

And with it, they missed the chance to set a new club record of 13 successive home wins.

Adam Boyd's injury time penalty miss summed up Pool's day. Presented with the perfect chance to put his side into round four for only the fifth time, Boyd went for power instead of placement and the ball flew over the crossbar.

But Boyd and Pool are in today's lunchtime draw for the fourth round and, with their away form turning around, they can be confident of going to York Street a week on Wednesday.

Boston will open up next time around, creating chances for Pool. On Saturday their game plan was containment and they did it well.

Pool had the majority of possession and opportunities, but found an organised defence and a busy midfield stifling.

Chris Westwood, two goals in the last round against Aldershot, had three chances to break the deadlock and, instead of adding to his goal tally, the defender was quick to recall that day in January 2003.

Darrell Clarke's goal gave Pool a scrappy victory then and Westwood said: "We won 1-0 that day and I think at the time Mike Newell said that the game was the turning point in our season and the game which showed him what we were all about.

"It was an awful day, but we went on from that and were promoted. Obviously we will look to go there and do the same again.

"It's got to be finished on the night, so it might even go to penalties.

"The good thing about this game is that we didn't lose, if we get a so-called bigger club in the draw then it's a massive incentive for us in the replay and if we don't we have the incentive to prove ourselves after a 0-0 draw.

"We have to go there and prove to them why we are playing in a league above.''

Darlington went to Boston before Christmas and lost 3-1 on the paddy field of a pitch and getting to grips with the surface will be a task for Pool.

Despite the frustration of Saturday, there will be no hangover and Westwood added: "You would have put money on Boydy to score the penalty, but he put himself forward to score.

"There's always the chance that you are not going to score, but in injury time he wasn't afraid to take it.

"I think there was a bit of reverse psychology from their keeper. Boydy played for Boston before so maybe they knew what he would normally do and I think the keeper dived to where he might have normally put it.

"Instead he's done something different and tried to smash it down the middle. But this wasn't our day and we have to do it again.''

In the last round, it was Pool's - and Westwood's day - as they thumped five past Aldershot. They probably had as many chances on Saturday as they did previously, but couldn't find a way through.

Westwood's double against The Shots helped Pool progress, but there was no scoring glory this time out.

"I could have had a couple again,'' he said. "The first one, Boydy cut it back and Joel (Porter) tried to get his foot on it as well, so he got a little touch and it put me off a little bit as I was shaping up.

"Then I headed the ball, caught it well, and the defender had jumped a little bit later than me and it's hit him on the head to deflect it wide.

"But there you go, I've done my bit at the other end in keeping a clean sheet and anyway, I've probably used up my quota of goals for the next few years anyway!"

Pool have now kept four clean sheets in succession and it's 385 minutes since Dimi Konstantopoulos' goal was breached.

A few long-range shots aside and the big Greek was hardly troubled.

Boston keeper Nathan Abbey made his first stop two minutes in. Eifion Williams crossed from the right and Antony Sweeney, at the far post, hit his shot back across goal and it crashed off Abbey's legs over the bar.

Abbey then got into the habit of keeping Pool out as Joel Porter broke away, cut across the last defender and tried to place his shot into the far corner, only for Abbey to claw it away.

Porter tried a shot from the opposite side of the penalty area, despite having Boyd in a better position, then Ritchie Humphreys stinging 25-yarder skimmed the bar.

Pool were perhaps fortunate as half-time approached not to concede a penalty. Micky Nelson bodychecked Andy Kirk as he shielded the ball back to Konstantopoulos.

Boston boss Steve Evans was furious with the decision and softer penalties have been given.

Boyd, 14 games and four goals on loan at Boston last season, turned his man on the edge of the area, shot low and, as the ball came back out, Westwood shot wide.

Pool missed out again as the same pair, from nigh on the same position - Boyd's shot and Westwood's follow up - missed another chance.

Deep into injury time Andy Appleby took a quick throw, ran through the defence and was tripped by Lee Beevers.

Boyd cleared the bar from the spot and there was barely time for the game to restart.

Result: Hartlepool United 0 Boston United 0.

Read more about Hartlepool here.