NEW RECRUIT Eifion Williams looked on as Hartlepool United's play-off hopes were dented on Tuesday night.

The striker, snapped up from Torquay on Tuesday for £30,000, watched his new teammates draw with Lincoln City from the Cyril Knowles Stand.

Pool rarely found the form that has lit up Victoria Park in recent weeks and they now have nine games remaining - starting with Bristol Rovers on Saturday - to make an impace on the top seven.

The draw takes Pool to 51 points - still 21 behind the tally needed in the last two campaigns to make the play-offs.

And with 27 points to play for, Pool have a lot to catch up on. Tuesday night's other results didn't help as rivals Cheltenham, Rushden, Scunthorpe, Hull and Shrewsbury - thanks to an Anth Lormor goal - all won.

Pool boss Chris Turner and skipper Micky Barron admitted after Saturday's defeat to Kidderminster that nothing less than six points this week would do; now the best they can hope for is four.

After 15 flat opening minutes, Ritchie Humphreys chipped a shot over the bar from 20 yards for the first bout of action.

Gordon Watson scuffed a shot at keeper Alan Marriott, but Pool appeared a little nervous on the back of successive away defeats in the last week, failing to find the fluent football that has become their trademark at home this season.

And an agitated and expectant home crowd failed to ease the nerves.

A low Marriot save to keep out a curling Paul Smith effort warmed the crowd, and minutes later the keeper was on the ball to keep the scoreline blank.

James Coppinger was fed by Humphreys, and Marriott kept out his effort and from the corner Graeme Lee headed on for Humpreys who was denied by the keeper.

Pool were now starting to put pressure on the Lincoln defence, Grant Brown clearing as Gordon Watson was ready to pounce.

The 13-goal striker had the ball in the net from Smith's corner but his effort was chalked off for handball.

With the wind whipping up for the second half, Pool tried hard to follow, but their efforts failed to make any inroads. Even Gordon Watson, so often the man to be relied upon to find a goal from nowhere, was becoming frustrated by Pool's inability to carve out any openings.

And that was magnified when Justin Walker burst through from midfield to blast past Anthony Williams from six yards and give the visitors the lead.

The goal means that Pool, despite their attacking prowess at Victoria Park this season, have not kept a clean sheet in front of their own fans since routing bottom of the league Halifax on November 20 - nine games ago.

Humphreys cut in from wide on a Pool break to play in Tinkler only for the midfielder, with nine goals to his credit this season, screw his effort wide. Watson burst into the box after Smith worked an opening and Marriott got there first to prevent Humphreys.

Pool had a big shout for a penalty shot down on 68 minutes when Smith's cross was palmed out by Ian Hamilton. But the officals had frustrated Pool all evening and the rejection had Victoria Park up in arms.

Coppinger went off in for Darrell Clarke on 72 minutes; four minutes later the substitute pulled Pool level.

Smith's free kick was cleared, won back by Graeme Lee, Humphreys chipped it back in the danger area and livewire Clarke was there to volley in a vital and facesaving equaliser.

Goals: Walker (53mins, 0-1); Clarke (76, 1-1)

Bookings: Bailey,Watson (dissent), Lee (foul)

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Preston) 4

Attendance: 3,126

HARTLEPOOL (4-4-2): Williams 6; Robinson 6, Lee 7, Westwood 7, Barron 6; Smith 6, TINKLER 7, Stephenson 6, Coppinger 6 (Clarke 72min); Humphreys 6 (Easter 84), Watson 7. Subs (not used): Hollund, Arnison, Henderson.

LINCOLN (4-4-2): MARRIOTT 7; Morgan 6, Bailey 6, Bimson 7, Brown 7; Smith 6, Walker 7, Murphy 6, Hamilton 6 (Finnigan 80); Battersby 7 (Cameron 75), Thorpe 7. Subs (not used): Horrigan, Buckley, Mayo.

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