After dominating for much of the game and taking a first-half lead through Michael Nelson, Pools were dragged level in the final minute of normal time as Leeds United snatched a point from The Vic.

There had been a lot of hype and build-up surrounding Pools' Boxing Day clash with Leeds United at The Vic. Kick off was brought forward to 12pm and both sets of fans easily selling their full capacity for the game, showing just how much they were looking forward to the game.

And, when Danny Wilson's men took to the field this afternoon, they showed that they too were up for the challenge as they took the game to Leeds and left Dennis Wise's men struggling for an opening if the first half.

Pools started the game brightly, clearly relishing the early start to the game, while the visitors seemed to take some time to wake up.

Wilson's men enjoyed some good possession play in the opening period, with Robbie Elliott involved heavily down the left wing and Willie Boland instilling some real bite in the centre of the pitch.

Although there were no real chances for either side in the opening twenty minutes, Pools looked confident and their patience paid off when Michael Nelson nodded home a well-deserved opener.

Elliott curled in a great free kick from the left side of the penalty box which curved through the box and found Nelson rising highest at the far post - the big defender did well to nod his effort down and into the bottom left corner of the net.

The opener gave Pools a boost and Casper Ankergren was kept on his toes with a succession of shots as the forwards looked to add to their tally for the season.

A great ball in from the influential Elliott found Ian Moore just inside the box and he stuck a boot out to deflect it goalwards but his effort went just over the bar.

Elliott was involved again when he linked up with Moore to play it through for Ritchie Humphreys but he lost out to Matt Heath in a gal-mouth challenge. And Richard Barker latched onto a great ball over the top from Willie Boland to run through on goal but his lunging effort cleared not only the keeper but also the bar.

The visitors had a couple of chances towards the end of the half - Tresor Kandol guilty of poor control when through on goal and Jermaine Beckford found himself one-one-one with Jan Budtz but his poked effort was blocked well by the big Pools' keeper.

So Pools took their 1-0 lead into the break but with Leeds United making scoring late in the second half something of a habit this term, Pools left the field knowing that they had to keep things going if they were going to take the points this afternoon.

James Brown gave the visitors a taste of just what he is capable of when he burst forward down the left wing shortly after the re-start, after leaving two defenders for dead on the wing, the tricky forward burst into the box only to see his effort go just wide under heavy pressure from Ankergren and Rui Marques.

There was more of a sense of urgency about Leeds' game in the second period though, and they began to test the Pools' rearguard with a heavy spell of pressure. But with Nelson and co. working hard to keep the visitors at bay, Budtz was left relatively untested and Pools built on this control to push forward at the other end.

Ian Moore made a great move down the right wing before cutting inside and firing a powerful effort right across the face of goal and, just as it looked set to creep in at the far post, Ankergren got a slight touch on it to just tip it narrowly wide.

As the game really opened up, Jan Budtz was called into action when he got down well to block a dangerous chance from Andy Hughes from powering in from close range.

Tore Andre Flo, on as a late sub, had a good chance to spoil the party for Pools when he had the ball laid on for him by Beckford, but when through with only Budtz to beat, the former Chelsea striker skied his shot high over the bar.

When Wilson's men were awarded a free kick for a foul on Ian Moore just to the left of the box, Robbie Elliott stepped up purposefully to lift it in, but his effort sailed high over the bar.

And, just as Pools looked to have held firm and be getting the little fortune they have been due recently, the sucker punch arrived in the final minute of the game.

The ball was lifted forward to Jermaine Beckford who picked it up inside the area and fired home across goal and into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The five minutes of additional time could have seen the game go either way as both sides refused to give up - Beckford tipping the ball narrowly wide in the dying minutes when odds-on to score and Ian Moore robbed of a free kick when bundled over on the edge of the box.

Despite Pools having played the better football for much of the game, once again Leeds United rode their luck to snatch a lat equaliser and rob Wilson's men of a valuable two points,

Next up at The Vic for Pools is Leyton Orient and Danny Wilson will be hoping his side can put in an equally spirited display on Saturday.

Pools: Budtz, Nolan, Nelson, Antwi, Elliott, Brown (Sweeney 87), Liddle, Boland, Humphreys, Barker, Moore

Subs Not Used: Robson, Bullock, Foley, Mackay

Leeds United: Ankergren, Richardson, Marques, Heath, Prutton (Carole 57), Beckford, Westlake (Flo 77), Howson, Kandol, Hughes, Kishishev (Thompson 57)

Subs Not Used: Huntington, Constantine