Cherries missed out on the chance to force their way in the play-off places after they were held to a 0-0 draw by League One rivals Hartlepool today.

An uninspiring contest, played in freezing conditions on Teesside, produced little in the way of goalmouth action with a share of the spoils a fair outcome.

Cherries went close to scoring when Steve Cook’s first-half header was cleared off the line, while Peter Sweeney wasted a good opening for the hosts late on.

Scott Malone, the hero of Cherries’ 2-0 win over Exeter, was restored to the starting line-up following his midweek exploits against the Grecians as boss Bradbury made one change.

Malone replaced new signing Donal McDermott, the Dubliner dropping down to the bench, as Bradbury selected from the same 16-man squad.

Cherries carved out the clearest goalscoring opportunity of the opening period when Cook’s header from Malone’s 42nd-minute corner was hacked off the line by Evan Horwood.

Chances were at a premium during the first half with teenage striker Luke James seeing his glancing header well saved by Darryl Flahavan in the 17th minute.

Apart from the two headed opportunities, neither goal came under too much threat as defences dominated during a largely uneventful first 45 minutes.

Wes Thomas squandered a presentable chance seven minutes before the break when he scooped a left-foot shot over the crossbar following a Marc Pugh assist.

James flicked a cross from Horwood past the post at the start of the second half before Thomas fired wide after seizing on a loose ball on the edge of the box.

Thomas drew a fine save from Scott Flinders after 65 minutes, the Pools goalkeeper diving full length to his right to push the striker’s low drive around the upright.

Cook threw himself in front of James Brown’s shot to divert the effort for a corner before Matt Tubbs’s looping shot was gathered by Flinders.

Cherries had an escape when Sweeney created space for a shot, the midfielder wastefully blazing over the crossbar nine minutes from time.

McDermott, on as a 63rd-minute substitute for Malone, then went close to breaking the deadlock when his low left-foot drive flashed past the post.

Pools defender Peter Hartley rose to meet a Horwood free kick, only to head straight into the grateful arms of Flahavan.

Cherries (4-4-2): Flahavan, Francis, Zubar, Cook, Daniels, Pugh, Gregory, MacDonald (Arter, 63), Malone (McDermott, 63), Tubbs, W Thomas (Fletcher, 82).

Unused subs: Purches, D Thomas (g/k).

Pools (4-4-2): Flinders, Austin, Hartley, Collins, Horwood, Brown, James (Nish, 70).

Unused subs: Humphreys, Haslam, Baldwin, Rafferty (g/k).

Booked: Brown, Austin, James, Liddle.

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire).

Attendance: 4,548 (inc 125 away supporters).