JAMES Henry starred as injury-ravaged Cherries claimed a hard-earned share of the spoils from an entertaining Sky Sports-televised encounter.

The Reading loan star lit up the gloomy North East skies when he netted a stunning first-half opener to give Kevin Bond's troops an unexpected, but not undeserved, lead.

But Cherries' hopes of securing a fourth away league win bit the dust when Ian Moore cancelled out Henry's strike just before half-time.

Moore, the son of Tranmere boss Ronnie Moore, stole in to convert his seventh goal of the season following an enterprising forward run.

Gareth Stewart was drafted in for his first start of the season, the goalkeeper replacing injury victim Neil Moss as Cherries made two changes.

Henry also returned to the starting line-up with the Reading loan star coming in for Sam Vokes, who was on international duty with Wales under-21s.

Winger Henry was one of no fewer than eight teenagers in the Cherries squad with substitutes Ryan Pryce and Josh McQuoid the youngest at 17.

Stewart made a confident start when he claimed Ali Gibb's dangerous free kick under pressure from a posse of Pools players inside the opening 60 seconds.

Jamie McCunnie looked to draw first blood for the hosts after Josh Gowling had failed to clear, only for the midfielder to shoot well off target.

And Richie Barker wasted a glorious chance to put Pools in front after 14 minutes, the striker fluffing his lines with a free header from barely three yards from Gibb's hanging cross.

Pools were made to pay when a flash of brilliance from the lively Henry led to Cherries opening the scoring after 16 minutes.

The England under-19 prospect rifled a ferocious left-foot shot into the top corner of Budtz's net after jinking his way into the 18-yard box.

It was his third goal in as many games and Cherries' fifth successive effort courtesy of one of their Reading loan quartet.

And as the natives of Victoria Park began to get restless, Danny Hollands went close to adding a quick second, his header finding the grateful arms of Pools goalkeeper Budtz.

As Pools went in search of an equaliser, Stewart watched speculative efforts by James Brown and McCunnie fly past the woodwork.

Gowling's timely interception denied Barker a free run on goal before Brown's crisp drive fizzed over the crossbar after 33 minutes.

As Cherries continued to defend resolutely, Pools were restricted to half chances and Joel Porter's 39th-minute deflected drive failed to trouble Stewart.

But Cherries' brave rearguard action was finally breached when Pools levelled through Moore four minutes before half-time.

The free-scoring midfielder was rewarded for his darting run into the box when he arrived to turn home Porter's lofted pass to register his seventh of the season.

Hollands cleared the stand with an ambitious 30-yarder at the start of the second half before Pools had a loud shout for a penalty turned down after 58 minutes.

Much to the chagrin of the locals, referee Neil Swarbrick judged Gowling had saved fairly with his chest as he dived to his right to block Brown's goalbound shot.

Diminutive Jem Karacan headed narrowly over after beating the giant Budtz to Golbourne's teasing cross before the Reading teenager was booked for jumping into Ritchie Humphreys.

The hard-working Jo Kuffour saw his fierce strike cannon off Micky Nelson and go out for a corner after Shaun Cooper's tenacity down the right had created the opening.

Hollands was denied when his first-time effort from Henry's near post cross went straight down Budtz's throat as Cherries mounted a swift counter attack.

Pools substitute David Foley was inches away from grabbing a dramatic late winner after haring from the halfway line following a Cherries free kick.

But after shrugging off the attentions of Golbourne, Foley's angled shot trickled past Stewart's left-hand post before Nelson's header also went wide.

Alex Pearce almost snatched victory for Cherries at the death when his bullet header just cleared the crossbar.