FRUSTRATING wouldn't be the word to describe Hartlepool United. For Chris Turner's side contrived to turn three points into one against Plymouth at Victoria Park on Saturday after a second-half display that was a million miles away from their opening 45 minuts.

Kevin Henderson returned to the starting line-up to net his fourth goal in as many games and Pool were coasting. A second goal failed to materialise and how costly t proved as they allowed their visitors not only back into the game, but also within a whisker of winning it.

And that's why Turner was again left exasperated. In the past week he has seen his charges fail to start playing at Rochdale and pay the penalty - quite iterally (remember Mr Frazer Stretton?) - go two goals down to a strong Brighton side before they even thought about playing football and now gift what looked for the first half a very ordinary Plymouth side a point. But in the second half it was Pool who looked the ordinary side and Turner is fast losing patince with some of his players.

Even a 50-minute cooling down period spent deep in discussion with coaches Colin West and Martin Scott after the final whistle on Saturday failed to control his isappointment. "We did well for 45 minutes and could easily have been more than one-up,'' he reflected. "But we let them dictate and take the initiative. One or two players are lacking in confidence and it showed asthey went into their shells.

"It's very disappointing but we have to battle on and carry on trying to win games. I thought we came up against the division's strongest team in Brighton on Wednesday, but we should hav won against Plymouth. It was a very very poor goal to give away from a defensive point of view, the ball went around the back and they went to sleep.

"From being in a strong position from which we should have won, e ended up hanging on for a point. The front two put them under pressure and we created one or two chances. Sam Shilton had a productive first half and things were goin well, but we were lacking something on the other side to give them two problems to worry about.'' After three successive away defeats, Pool now go to Hull tomorrow night (TUESDAY) in another far from easy game and Turner admitted: "Games re coming up thick and fast and players are going down with injuries all the time.

"I've got to bring in some players because we cannot continue in coming months with the current squad. I will try to add to it for Tesday - I don't sit there at my desk during the week and do nothing - but it's difficult to get the right players.

"If we bring the wrong players in then where do we turn to next?''

As ever when games are not goingswimmingly at Victoria Park, the Mill House Moaners were not slow to let their feelings known and Turner admitted: "I am a winner and I won't shirk my responsibilities. People have a scream an a go at me, but these same people were cheering two weeks ago against Darlington and then moaning last season when we didn't have a very good start. But I know the second half wasn't good enough, sometimes we have to dig in and take the flck.

"Now is the time for players to show their character and help us through this spell. Gary Strodder has in the last two games showed his character and played exceptionally well, he was unlucky at the end with a good chance, but those kind of things are not goig for us now.

"At Rochdale they got the decision that won the game for them. Sometimes you make your own luck, but losers drop their heads and rop out of the game - we can't have anyone doing that.''

Plymouth played five across midfield to try and stifle Pool, showing the home side the same sort of respect Pol did at Brighton last week. The difference was that this home team could only muster one goal and allowed their opponents back into it.

Sean McCarthy played the role of lone striker, with Paul McGregor quick to ffer support with the pack of midfielders. But Pool took the initiative when the ever-willing Tim Sperrevik chased a long ball and played it across the penalty area. Tommy Miller took it on and crossed for Hendersonto smash home. Once again, more goals should have followed, once again they didn't.

Sperrevik gave arguably his best display in the first half, chasing seemingly lost causes and having a defttouch that defied his huge frame. His link-up play was first-rate and with Henderson seemingly on the end of every cross, with Miller helping out, surely there was only one result.

Sperrevik was guilty of a glaring miss just after the restrt, planting a header wide from eight yards and Lee Fitzpatrick screwed a shot across goal from 12 yards with the goal gaping. And instead of being 3-0, it was soon 1-1. A Martin Barlow ball across and behind the Pol defence caught the back line static and McCarthy onside. He squared for substitute Kevin Nancekivell and it was easier for the substitute to score than it was to try and pronounce his name.

Four minutes later McGegor, the former Nottingham Forest striker who could do with a proper hairdresser, headed against the bar and when McCarthy blazed high and wide from eight yards, by the end Pool were welcomin a point.

Goals: Henderson (22mins, 1-0); Nancekivell (68, 1-1) Booking: Westwood (failing to retreat) Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme Attendance: 2,581 HARTLEPOOL (3-5-2): Williams 6; Strodder 7, BAKER 8, Westwood 6; Knowles 6, Stephenson 7, Miller 7, Fitzpatrick 6, Shilton 7; Sperrevik 7, Henderson 7. Subs (not used): Midgley, McAvoy, Arnison, Sharp, Porter (gk). PLYMOUTH (4-5-1): Sheffield 6; Beswetherick 7, Taylor 6, Wotton 6, Adams 6; Barlow 6, O'Sullivan 7, Phillips 7, LEADBITTER 8 (Nancekivell 61, 6), McGregor 7; McCarthy 7. Subs (not used): Barrett, Guinan, Stonebridge, Hodges (gk). MAN OF THE MATCH : STEVE Baker - an assured display