Williams was in inspired form for Pool

Hartlepool goalkeeper Anthony Williams had to be in magnificent form to secure the league leaders a point in a goalless draw at Cambridge.

Williams pulled off a hat-trick of outstanding saves as Cambridge, who were missing four key players due to injury and illness, overpowered them in the second half.

Dave Kitson, Tom Youngs and Luke Guttridge each tested Williams in quick succession during a frantic 10-minute spell in the second half, but the keeper was up to the task as he denied all three.

Williams deflected Kitson's close-range shot for a corner, made a point-blank block from Youngs three minutes later, before rushing out to smother the ball at Guttridge's feet.

Hartlepool only just survived before that when Williams was beaten by a header from Francesco Nacca, only for Mark Robinson to hack the ball off the goalline.

Substitute Adam Boyd had the best of the visitors' few scoring chances, but his shot shortly after the hour was well saved by young Cambridge goalkeeper Martin Brennan on his league debut.

It was Cambridge who finished the stronger and Omer Riza drilled a right-foot shot over the crossbar before Terry Fleming's scuffed effort drifted wide of the left-hand post.

Cambridge: Brennan, Fleming, Duncan, Tann, Murray, Nacca, Wanless, Guttridge, Riza, Kitson, Youngs. Subs: Clarke, Chillingworth, Scully, Revell, Bridges.

Hartlepool: Anthony Williams, Barron, Lee, Westwood, Robinson, Clarke, Tinkler, Widdrington, Humphreys, Eifion Williams, Richardson. Subs: Provett, Henderson, Arnison, Sweeney, Boyd.

Referee: E Wolstenholme (Lancashire)