HARTLEPOOL United were held to a goalless draw at Spennymoor United's Brewery Field last night, writes Paul Fraser.

Pool, who hit 24 goals in two games on a pre-season tour of Holland last week, could not find a way past Tony Lee's non-League outfit.

The Third Division side, fourth favourites in some bookmakers to win the title next time around, fielded a second-string and they were made to work until the final whistle.

Adam Boyd, Paul Arnison, Jermaine Easter and Eifion Williams - playing his first pre-season game of the summer - all had chances to put Colin West's Pool side in front.

However, Spennymoor could themselves have sneaked an equaliser, but Pool 'keeper Jim Provett - who has spent a loan spell at Moor - was equal to every threat posed.

Pool: Provett; Arnison, Simms, Sharp, Brackstone, Bass, Stephenson, Boyd, Sweeney; Easter, E Williams.

* The Football Association yesterday confirmed that no charges were to be brought against Carlisle United Football Club, its directors or club owner Michael Knighton following a two-year investigation by the FA's Financial Advisory and Compliance Unit. The FA confirmed to the club that their investigation was now at an end .

Read more about Hartlepool here.