MARLON Harewood earned Hartlepool United a vital point in their fight to stay in the Football League.

Trailing to Accrington following a desperately poor first half performance and running out of ideas, Pools turned to the veteran front man for inspiration.

And, three minutes after his introduction from the bench, he met a Jordan Jones cross and planted a glorious header across keeper Scott Davies.

The point keeps Pools out of the bottom two, with three games remaining after a defeat for Tranmere and a win tonight for Cheltenham.

A poor first-half was lit up by a brilliant strike from Stanley striker Josh Windass. 

Taking advantage of a mix-up in the home defence between Dan Jones and David Mirfin, the striker drilled in an unstoppable shot from 20 yards.

Pool came to life in the second half and Aaron Tshibola missed a great chance for a leveller, scooping wide from ten yards.

After Harewood's header, Pools should have won it in injury time, but substitute Scott Fenwick lifted the ball over the bar from six yards from a Neil Austin cross.