Pools lost out 3-1 to Newcastle United in what was an entertaining pre-season friendly.

Danny Wilson's side, who pushed the visitors all the way on the night, took a second-half lead when James Brown fired home from close range.

But Newcastle stamped their authority on the game as it progressed, with goals from Shola Ameobi (2) and Michael Owen sealing the victory.

Pools started the game well and more than held their own in a competitive first half, with Arran Lee-Barrett impressing on his debut.

The big keeper was called into action on the quarter hour mark when Kieron Dyer set Stephen Carr away down the right. Carr's chip into the box found Andy Carroll who looked set to head home the opener - but a great block by Lee-Barrett saw the ball cleared to safety.

The former Coventry City man then denied Carroll once again when he held a shot from distance. These confidence-boosting saves gave Lee-Barrett a strong start to what was an impressive first-half display.

Pools had their fair share of chances and made sure Shay Given enjoyed his own first-half workout. Joel Porter tried his luck from just inside the area but the ball edged wide of target while Ali Gibb suffered a similar fate with a volley from thirty yards.

Wilson's men worked well in the opening forty-five minutes, giving the Premiership visitors a good workout. Ben Clark impressed throughout with his strong display at the heart of defence alongside Godwin Antwi while Gary Liddle worked tirelessly in the centre of midfield.

Lee-Barrett though was the player grabbing most of the first-half headlines, particularly when he pulled off an impressive double save to keep the scores level.

The stopper did well to block a shot from close range from Carroll and then as Joey Barton ran up to slot home the rebound with a diving header, Lee-Barrett showed great recovery to get down and smother.

With five changes apiece at half time, the second half got off to the perfect start for Pools as one of Wilson's subs put them ahead.

A Matty Robson shot from the left curled through to James Brown on the right side of the area and the young striker showed great composure to volley home past former Pools' loan man Steve Harper.

But Sam Allardyce's men were level within ten minutes; a Dyer run right through the middle of the pitch saw the ball played forward for Ameobi and the big striker went one-on-one with Pools second new keeper Jan Budtz, took the ball round him and slotted home.

Newcastle's second goal came just two minutes later when Dyer once again pushed forward, this time feeding James Troisi who pulled the ball back for Owen who poked the ball past Budtz and into the back of the net.

Pools looked to have drawn level when Ben Clark nodded home a Robbie Elliott corner but the referee ruled the effort out for a push in the area - much to the former Sunderland man's disappointment.

With tiredness setting in for some of the players, the visitors found a third with less than twenty minutes remaining.

Charles N'Zogbia played the ball through for Troisi and he this time fed Ameobi who hit an effort towards goal and, although Budtz looked to have got something on the chance, it slipped through his hands and into the net - rounding off the score at 3-1.

Both teams enjoyed a tough work out this evening at The Vic and although the Premiership side's quality showed out in the end, Pools put in an impressive display and Danny Wilson will take a lot of positives from the game.

Pools: Lee-Barrett (Budtz 46), McCunnie, Robson (Monkhouse 64), Liddle (Turnbull 83), Clark, Antwi, Gibb (Brown 46), Sweeney (Bullock 69), Porter (Moore 46), Mackay (Barker 46), Humphreys (Elliott 46)

Subs Not Used: Foley, Barron

Newcastle United: Given (Harper 46), Carr (Lough 75), Rozehnal (Solano 46), Barton (LuaLua 75), Dyer (Pattison 64), Martins (Owen 46), N'Zogbia (Bertram 78), Butt (Troisi 46), Ramage (Francis 88), Huntington, Carroll (Ameobi 46)