Pools Reserves eased to a comfortable 4-0 win over Barnsley in the opening fixture of the new Central League season this evening.

The result was never really in doubt and Pools could even have helped themselves to some more goals, with Michael Mackay looking particularly potent up front.

Ian Butterworth's side took the lead mid-way through the first half when Marc Ellison's pinpoint ball through for Mackay gave the striker time to turn inside the defence and fire a low shot into the bottom left hand corner.

Ellison almost had a goal himself moments later but his powerful drive was turned round the post by Tyke's keeper Kyle Letheren.

Reuben Lazarus bundled his way through for Barnsley's best chance of the half but his shot hit the post, bounced out and hit the knees of the back-tracking Joe Tait and then cannoned off the post and somehow stayed out as Pools rode their luck.

Butterworth's side were soon back on track with Jonny Rowell's imaginative dummy on the half way line giving the impressive Matty Robson room to burst forward from full back but having made it right into the penalty area, he drilled a shot into the side netting.

The second half saw more of the same as Jamie McCunnie who burst into the right side of the penalty area and played the ball back for Mackay but his first-time shot rattled the bar and was scrambled to safety.

The second goal arrived when Jan Budtz's long clearance was excellently pulled out of the air by Mackay and he drilled a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Alan Power, Joe Tait and Marc Ellison all tested the keeper but Jonny Rowell's speculative left wing cross sailed over the Tyke's shot stopper and into the top corner making it 3-0.

Rowell hit a post for Pools before Power sowed things up just after the hour mark when he won possession and stormed towards goal to hit an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.

Mackay twice had chances to complete his hat trick but was ruled out for offside and then saw another effort cleared off the line.

Pools 4 Barnsley 0

Pools: Budtz, McCunnie, Tait, Sharple, Young, Robson, Power, Rowell, Ellison (Martin 74), Foley (Scaife 76), Mackay
Subs Not Used: Cook, Blackford

Barnsley: Letheren, Reffin, Atkinson, Grundy, Mellor, Butterfield, Adam, Lazarus (Bennett 74), Evans, Taylor (Warburton 81), Hilton
Subs Not Used: Crapper, Fearnehough, Scargill