Dan Moss hit the woodwork in the first-half for Dale’s best chance but McNulty’s men were unable to score in a league match for just the second time this season.
The Dale Head Coach welcomed back Tarryn Allarakhia and Harvey Gilmour to start, with Connor McBride making up the final change from Saturday. Tobi Adebayo-Rowling also returned to the matchday squad after injury.
Dale looked to attack with intent within seconds of the first whistle as Allarakhia burst into space down the left and won a corner. McBride’s resulting delivery narrowly above the head of the stretching Kyron Gordon.
After a pot-shot from Adam Campbell, Dale created the best opportunity of the opening period. 17 minutes had elapsed when Allarakhia sent a looping ball to the back stick which Dan Moss leapt as high as anyone to smash a header goalwards but he saw it come back off the post and away.
Oliver Whatmuff was called into action halfway through the first-half, sprawling to his left to get a strong hand on Tyrese Sinclair’s powerful curling effort.
The Manchester City loanee had to stay alert again from the following corner, to use all of his stature to deny Alex Reid from yards out, as the lineman’s flag was ultimately raised.
Reid had another effort at goal as he met Jay Benn’s low ball in however, he could only stab it wide of the near upright.
Dale had their hosts stretched on 37 minutes when Ethan Ebanks-Landell put in a superb challenge to halt Sinclair’s run and set McBride away. The forward cut in and teed up Devante Rodney, who could only send it over via a Hartlepool touch.
Both Mani Dieseruvwe and Reid had headers at goal in the latter stages of the half, our number nine’s the closer as he met a bouncing ball but Nick Hayes gathered well.
The first chance after the break fell to Jamie Miley who sent it over from the edge of the area before Moss was there at the far post to head on target , which Hayes held onto.
Sinclair looked the most likely for the home side, he was denied by the referee’s whistle for a foul as he chipped one home, then seeing two deflected efforts divert off target.
Ian Henderson was introduced and had a shooting opportunity three minutes from the end but his low effort was blocked after initially doing well to gain back possession, with a draw the end result.
Hartlepool United XI | Hayes, Benn, John, Kouogun, Campbell (79′ Caton), Sheron, Hunter, Miley (79′ Sway), Reid (83′ Oliver), Daly, Sinclair.
Unused subs | Smith, Parkes, Ferguson, Walker.
Dale XI | Whatmuff, Gordon, East, Ebanks-Landell (c), Allarakhia (63′ Adebayo-Rowling), Gilmour (63′ Pettit), Dieseruvwe, Rodney (71′ Smith), McBride (63′ Henderson), Moss (71′ Hannant), Perry.
Unused subs | Baptiste, Francis.
Attendance | 4203 (760 visitors).
