A strong SC Cambuur side defeated Pools in Leeuwarden last night in front of a packed house at the Dutch outfit's de Hertgang training complex.

It was a tough evening for a much-changed Pools side against a team who are hoping to go one better in the new season having missed out on promotion to Holland's top league after a penalty shootout defeat in the Play-Off Finals last term.

Pools began the game at a good pace with Ritchie Humphreys using all his experience up front to win a number of early free-kicks.

It was from a clever Humphreys lay-off that Chris Turner's men produced the first shot on goal but David Foley's shot flew high and wide from the edge of the area.

However, the hosts soon began to take control of the game, using their width on a big pitch to good effect and utilising dangerous wingers Jeffrey de Visscher and Bob Schepers.

And Cambuur made their pressure tell when de Visscher got in to space on the right to deliver a cross towards Oguzhan Turk who took a great touch on his chest before swivelling to rifle home the opening goal from twelve yards.

The large crowd were clearly expecting more goals for Cambuur but it was Pools were almost next on the scoresheet when Matty Tymon came close to bundling Jon-Andre Fredriksen's right wing free kick in to the net only for David Meal to save well.

Humphreys was cleverly played through by the bright Jonny Rowell just afterwards but his neat finish in to the net was to count for nothing as the offside flag had been raised.

Cambuur almost extended their lead in the early stages of the second half but Ruud ter Heide fired over after finding space to run through on goal.

But Pools hit back strongly and Fredriksen's positive wing play helped them claim an equaliser. The Norwegian debutant took on his full-back and whipped a cross in to the box which was spilt by the keeper and when Adam Boyd flashed it back across the danger area, Jonny Rowell drilled it in to the net.

However, the parity did not last long as Cambuur crowd favourite Sandor van der Heide turned skillfully on the edge of the penalty area and found the top corner with a wonderful curling effort.

It was soon 3-1 as the hosts took control of the game once again, ter Heide flicking home from close range after a quickfire counter-attack.

And Cambuur added further misery for Pools when a deep cross from the right found substitute Nassir Maachi who powered it in to the net for 4-1.

Andy Monkhouse was introduced to the action from the bench and saw a header saved after Rowell's free-kick picked him out at the far post.

But the Pools winger was soon celebrating after Rowell swung the ball across the pitch for him and he set himself before drilling in to the far bottom corner.

Another tough game for Pools ended in defeat then, but yet again the positives come from the good fitness workout achieved by the players.

Full Time: SC Cambuur 4 Pools 2

SC Cambuur: Meal, Hese (Bergtop 46), Rustenberg. Beekmans, de Visscher, ter Heide, van der Heide, Turk, van der Ree, van der Kooy, Schepers (Maachi 46).

Pools: Flinders, Austin, Clark, Hartley, Sharples (Jones 79), Foley (McSweeney 46), Liddle (Power 79), Rowell (Sweeney 79), Fredriksen (Monkhouse 46), Tymon (Boyd 46), Humphreys (Mackay 46).