THERE was a sense of bewilderment at Victoria Park on Saturday.

A 2-2 draw with Macclesfield left Hartlepool still looking for their first home league win of the season and their first on home territory since beating Mansfield on April 22.

Yet during the second half, Pool tore Peter Davenport's side apart as they took the initiative following an indifferent first half - it's no exaggeration to say it could easily have been a good three or four-goal advantage in Pool's favour.

Tommy Miller and Sam Shilton put Pool two in front, but Richie Barker, the scourge of last season's corresponding fixture, reduced the gap and Lee Glover netted an injury-time penalty, given by referee Tony Leake after a goalmouth melee involving Gary Strodder and Anthony Williams.

Mr Leake cited Strodder as the guilty party, but TV replays failed to find anyone guilty and was it a question of the striker falling over himself?

But this was against Macclesfield - a team Pool have not beat in the League in six attempts so maybe it's no surprise Chris Turner's birthday, celebrated the previous day, ended in disappointment.

"Of course I am disappointed with the last 30 seconds, but the fans will not see a team destroy another like that and not win,'' said Turner.

"That was probably the best home performance since I came here - just sometimes we didn't get the end product. Someone told me as we came off the pitch that we sat back, but I would ask them through the newspaper to come and watch the video and see how many chances we created.

"Sometimes it happens in football, we did it to them at their place last season when we got two late goals for a draw, but some of the football we played in the second half was superb.

"I am disappointed that they scored in the last minute but I told the players that we will play a lot worse than that and win.''

The first half was a forgettable affair, with neither side stepping out of first gear. Shilton - as he was to prove later - was an attacking threat on the left flank, but his endless supply of teasing crosses more often failed to find an end product.

His best chance came when he blasted a 30-yard free kick over the defensive wall that Tony Bullock pushed over at the last second.

At the other end, Pool were thankful that Damien Whitehead could only plant his free header from eight yards against the crossbar after he was found by a deep cross.

But the game sparked into life within minutes of the restart. Tony Lormor powered his way into the area and was tripped by Darren Tinson.

Mr Leake first awarded a free-kick, until told by his linesman it was in the area. Miller stuck it home for his fourth of the season and second in a week after his effort at Blackpool seven days earlier.

That was the cue for Pool to tear into the visitors, but their only reward came when Shilton rampaged down the left flank and drifted inside to blast past Bullock.

Miller, Lormor and Kevin Henderson all could have added to the tally, but Macclesfield flashed a warning when Barker firmly headed in from 12 yards.

While at Blackpool Pool kept their lead intact, this time they got a bit nervous and gave the ball away too much so it wasn't to be and Glover netted from the spot.

Confusion reigned as the penalty was awarded, but it was not as clear cut as one Pool were denied earlier.

Fitzpatrick's shot was deflected onto a post with Bullock stranded and as the ball spun out, Lormor was upended by the keeper as he was poised to put Pool three in front.

"That's when you need the run of the ball,'' said Turner. "Anthony Williams made a great save, but the ball spun away from him and the luck goes against us - you need the ball to run for you and this time it didn't.

"But if we show that effort, tempo and quality every week I will have no complaints. Last week Blackpool didn't score, this week Macclesfield did.

"At 2-0 up we were one goal away from killing the game off. Richie Barker is a good finisher though and he gave them a lift.

"They got out of jail. If we had come back from two-down to get it to 2-2 everyone goes home pleased, but because we had it taken away from us, it feels disappointing.''

But now Pool have to forget about the result and take heart from the performance.

If they play like that more often - and Turner is not the sort of manager to let those standards slip - a rise up the table can't be far away.

Goals: Miler (47pen, 1-0); Shilton (57, 2-0); Barker (75, 2-1); Glover (90pen, 2-2)

Referee: Tony Leake (Darwen, Lancs)

Attendance: 2,589

HARTLPOOL (3-5-2): Williams 6, Strodder 7, Westwood 6, Sharp 7; Arnison 6, STEPHENSON 8, Miller 7, Fitzpatrick 7 (Tennebo 83), Shilton 7; Henderson 6 (Sperrevik 80), Lormor 7 (Midgley 85). Subs (not used): Knowles, Hollund (gk).

MACCLESFIELD (4-4-2): Bullock 6, Hitchen 6, Tinson 7, Ingram 6, Abbey 6; Askey 6, Munroe 6 (Twynham 73; Durkan 90), Wood 6, SEDGEMORE 7; Barker 7, Whitehead 6 (Glover 60, 6). Subs (not used): Collins, O'Neill.

MAN OF THE MATCH

PAUL Stephenson - drove Pool on in the second half