Cheltenham Town's 400th Football League game ended in stalemate at Whaddon Road this afternoon.
The Robins turned in a much better display in the second half, creating the lionshare of the chances but their solitary goal arrived five minutes before the break courtesy of Andy Lindegaard's fine volley.
Hartlepool got themselves back into the contest eight minutes after the interval courtesy of Joel Porter's superb individual effort, and on balance the draw was a fair result.
It moved Keith Downing's side up one place to 18th in Coca-Cola League One tonight.
Robins boss Downing sent out the same 11 that started the 3-0 defeat at Swindon Town on Tuesday evening. The only change came on the bench, where Ashley Vincent replaced Adam Connolly.
The home side played into bright sunshine in the first period and it was Shane Higgs, sporting a cap, who needed to push away a Joel Porter drive in the opening minute.
Former England international Alan Thompson lashed a left footer over the angle of the goal five minutes later but Cheltenham's first clear chance of the contest arrived in the eighth minute.
Steve Brooker headed on Jerry Gill's throw to release Gillespie down the right, and the striker cut inside Graeme Lee to create an opportunity to cross for Lindegaard, however the midfielder scuffed his shot from close-range and the chance went begging.
Cheltenham really should have been in front on the 20-minute mark when David Bird found Brooker unmarked eight yards from goal but the striker headed straight at Hartlepool goalkeeper Jan Budtz when a foot either side would have resulted in the opening goal.
Bird rolled one wide after some good build up play down the Cheltenham right, while Gillespie was called to clear his line a minute short of the half-hour mark when Lee met Thompson's corner from the left with a firm header.
Cheltenham's passing game came together as the half progressed and they bagan to mount some concerted pressure on the Hartlpool defence and five minutes short of the interval, Downing's side fashioned the breakthrough.
Russell took a short corner with D'Agostino and lifted into the six-yard area, but it was cleared by Antony Sweeney as far as Gill 25 yards out. The right-back brought it down on the volley into the path of Lindegaard, who took a touch before thumping a volley from 22 yards into the top right-hand corner.
The goalkeeper could have done better with the effort, but it was a superb strike that divided the sides at the break.
Hartlepool however were back on terms eight minutes after the re-start courtesy of a fantastic individual effort by Pool striker Porter.
The Australian striker picked up a mis-timed clearance by Wright out on the left touchline, nutmegged Caines and carried the ball into the box before dropping a shoulder and placing an inch-perfect curler into Higgs' top left-hand corner.
Gillepsie had a decent opportunity five minutes later when Brooker played him in down the middle, but Budtz was out fast off his line to kick away the danger.
Russell's inswinging free-kick would have crept inside the right post had Budtz not dropped to his left to claw away the danger.
Hartlepool boss Danny Wilson made a couple of changes 25 minutes from time, replacing Thompson with Tom Craddock and Willie Boland with Jamie McCunnie, and Craddock so nearly marked his debut with a goal, holding off Gallinagh to release a strike that Higgs saw off with his legs. Cheltenham turned defence into attack and the ball ended up at Gillespie's feet. The Liverpudlian beat Godwin Antwi on the byline before before smashing a shot from a tight angle against the crossbar.
The next chance fell to Russell, who drew the save of the game from Budtz 15 minutes from time with a great header that seemed destined for the top right-hand corner after D'Agostino's fine work out on the right.
Manager Downing sent on Scott Brown at the expense of Lindegaard a minute later and the winger could so easily have scored with his first touch, driving Brooker's knock-on across the face of the goal and inches wide, but it was the last real chance of the afternoon and on balance, the draw was a fair result.
CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-4-2): Higgs; Gill (c), Caines, Gallinagh, Wright; D'Agostino, Russell, Bird, Lindegaard (Brown 76); Brooker (Connor 81), Gillespie. Subs not used: S.P.Brown (Gk), Vincent, Armstrong.
HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2): Budtz; Antwi, Liddle, Lee, Humphreys (c); Foley, Sweeney, Boland (McCunnie 64), Thompson (Craddock 64); Barker, Porter. Subs not used: Elliott, Monkhouse, Lee-Barrett (Gk).
REFEREE: C.Penton (Sussex)
ATTENDANCE: 3,583 (258 from Hartlepool)