HARTLEPOOL UNITED suffered late heartache at Bournemouth after Matt Tubbs denied Neale Cooper’s side three points on the south coast.

Simon Walton had given Pools a 73rd minute lead from the spot, but sub Tubbs popped up in the last minute to earn the hosts a point with the game finishing 1-1.

Although both sides struggled to create any clear-cut chances in the first half, it was Pools that got the ball rolling. Simon Walton collected the ball on the edge of the area and teed up for a shot, but his effort deflected off Miles Addison and looped straight into the hands of Cherries keeper Shwan Jalal.

The midfielder, back in the team after a disappointing start to his Pools career, found space in a similar area and again tried his luck, but this time the ball ended up in the stand.

The hosts dominated possession in the opening 45 minutes and inevitably they pressed forward. However, despite some good link-up play between Shaun MacDonald and Lewis Grabban, the hosts were wasteful in the final third.

Josh McQuoid went close from a Harry Arter corner, but his free header from ten yards out went wide.

Pools would have been the happier side going in at the break, but inevitably the Cherries came out and pressed forward.

Grabban saw a goalbound effort blocked, before McQuoid’s long-range effort flew wide.

For all their pressure, Bournemouth couldn’t find a breakthrough and despite having to ride waves of attacks, it was Pools who stole the lead in the 73rd minute.

Horwood broke down the left and raced in to the area, but his run was halted by McDonald and a penalty was given.

Walton, keen to impress on his return to the team, stepped up and kept his cool to slot the ball to the right of Jalal.

It looked as though Pools would be heading back to the North-East with three points, but substitute Tubbs finished low past Flinders in the 93rd minute to earn his side a draw.