Hartlepool United Academy recorded an emphatic 6-0 win over Notts County on Tuesday afternoon in the EFL Youth Alliance, with both Alfie Steel and Max Storey grabbing hat-tricks.
Ian McGuckin made one change to the team that beat Huddersfield Town at the weekend. Ollie Duthie returned at right-back for Louis Stephenson.
And his side got off to an ideal start when Steel scored after just 10 minutes. Duthie played Millen Burnett down the right, who beat his man and delivered a pinpoint cross for Steel to slam home inside the area.
Two minutes later, the advantage was doubled. Steel's high press forced the away goalkeeper into a mistake, and Storey took advantage with a precise effort into the top left corner.
Storey, Campbell Darcy and Eddie Ormerod had chances saved by the Notts County keeper before the third eventually arrived in the 42nd minute. Chris Lynn's corner fell perfectly onto the head of Steel inside the six-yard box, whose effort looped over the goalkeeper and into the net.
Charlie Berry drove a low strike into the keeper at the start of the second half, while Darcy clashed a header against the crossbar from Joe Kitching's corner.
The fourth then arrived on 76 minutes, when substitute Leo Robinson played the perfect pass through to Steel who rounded the keeper and slotted home for his third.
Just seconds later, Pools were five up after Storey was hacked down inside the box, sending the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Pools continued to press as Steel flashed a golden opportunity wide, while Euan McBride found the net but was ruled marginally offside.
And in the 90th minute, the hosts bagged their sixth. Steel latched onto McBride's pass and rounded the keeper before setting Storey for a simple tap in - his ninth goal in four games.
The Academy side are next action this Saturday at Blackhall, with an 11am kick-off against Harrogate Town.
Pools: Wilkinson, Duthie, Lynn, Berry, Darcy, Grundle, Burnett, Kitching, Steel, Ormerod, Storey
Subs: White, McBride, Robinson, Wood, Aungiers
