Pools  picked up their first victory of pre season with a 2-1 win over Gateshead this evening.

Goals from Andy Monkhouse and Denis Behan sealed the win for Chris Turner's side in a game which also saw the return of James Brown to the action  for the first time since the striker ruptured his cruciate ligament in November.

It was a case of friends reunited for several of the Pools players this evening with former Poolies Jim Provett, Carl Jones, Mark Robinson and Philip Turnbull all taking to the field for Gateshead, while Matty Robson turned up to watch his former team mates in action.

After a very early effort from Pools in which Jonny Rowell kick started a move that ended when Leon McSweeney fired a shot just over Jim Provett's bar, it was the hosts who went on to edge the first half in terms of possession.

There were headed efforts from both Steve Richardson and James Curtis which went just wide of Scott Flinders' goal, while Gary Liddle reacted well to intercept a Martin Brittain ball into the box and head high over the bar.

The main threat for the hosts came down the left channel in the form of the diminutive Wayne Phillips, who showed a good turn of pace to keep the Pools side on their toes throughout the first half.

But while Gateshead may have nicked the edge in terms of possession, Pools took the advantage that counts in the 20th minute of  play when a deep ball in from Antony Sweeney on the right wing found Andy Monkhouse in space deep inside the area and the rangey winger made no mistake as he nodded home past Provett to make it 1-0.

And although Provett had very little to do for the remainder of the half, it was a lively affair and a good work out for Chris Turner's men.

Jonny Rowell came more into his own in the centre of the field as the game progressed while his midfield partner Ritchie Jones enjoyed a good battle with former Pools man Philip Turnbull.

Half Time: Pools 1 Gateshead 0

Pools made it 2-0 with just nine minutes on the clock - a corner kick in from Rowell on the right fournd Denis Behan at the far post and, with an acre of space around him, the Irish striker made no mistake as he powered home an unstoppable header.

Richardson should have grabbed one back when he was fed through on goal - after drawing Flinders way out of his area, all the striker had to do was find target but his effort scraped wide of the near post and Pools held their advantage.

The biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for James Brown who made his return to action in the 64th minute, replacing Adam Boyd to partner Behan in attack.

As Pools enjoyed more of the ball after the break, sub Alan Power tried his luck his a strike from distance after picking up the ball from Brown but the midfielder saw his effort rise over the bar.

An enthusiastic James Brown was clearly keen to mark his return with a goal as he tested his luck with a cheeky strike from the edge of the box which was collected by Provett.

There was a late chance for Gateshead who pushed on in the closing minutes and it was that man Phillips was saw his effort crash against the crossbar and bounce back into play - but they didn't have to wait long for their consolation.

The goal did come for the hosts in the final minute of the game when sub Alex Francis picked up possession on the edge of the area and sent a low drive past Flinders and into the bottom left corner of his net to make it 2-1.

Full Time: Pools 2 Gateshead 1

Pools: Flinders, Sweeney, Liddle, Hartley, Smith (Lamploe 68), McSweeney (Foley 73), Rowell (Power 64), Jones, Monkhouse (Mackay 80), Boyd (Brown 64), Behan (Greulich 73)
Subs Not Used: Tymon, Cook

Gateshead: Provett, Baxter (Pelonde 66), Robinson (Cave 77), Gate, Curtis (Swailes 59), Jones, Brittain, Turnbull, Armstrong (Francis 46), Richardson, Phillips
Subs Not Used: Farman