Striker Charlie MacDonald came closest to breaking the deadlock for Brentford as the Bees battled to a hard fought 0-0 draw at Hartlepool United on Friday.

The 28-year-old frontman saw his second-half header deflected narrowly wide as two mid-table sides cancelled each other out in a game of few clear-cut chances.

Boss Andy Scott will look on it as a point gained as persistent heavy rain and a strong wind coming in off the North Sea ruined the game as a spectacle.

Brentford literally weathered an early storm at a rain swept Victoria Park, but fought back to ensure the scores remained level at the break for the first time in five games.

First Nikki Bull saved from Pools hot shot Adam Boyd on six minutes, before the same player lifted his shot over from five yards minutes later after the Bees keeper failed to punch clear a speculative cross.

The Bees enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening 45 minutes, but had only a Carl Cort header – comfortably saved by United keeper Scott Flinders – and two Sam Wood efforts to show for their endeavours.

Wood continued to be a threat in the second-half before being substituted late on and the Bees endured some anxious moments in the closing stages but did enough for the point.

Brentford: Bull, Dickson, Bennett ©, Phillips (Osborne 77), Wood (Weston 85), O'Connor, Bean, Saunders, MacDonald, Cort.

Subs not used: Kabba, Taylor, Ferrell, Blake, Moore.