Pools ran out deserved 3-2 winners over Middlesbrough in a lively Reserve Team outing at Victoria Park this evening.

Colin West's young side looked solid and determined, with Jon-Andre Fredrisken in particular shining this evening and the decent crowd gathered - perhaps swelled by the presence of Boro Reserve Team boss Martin Scott - were treated to an entertaining game.

The game didn't start too well for Pools as Middlesbrough took the lead with virtually the first move of the game when Gary Martin headed home past Mark Cook from close range after the keeper had fumbled a right-wing free-kick.

But the opener failed to rattle West's in-form outfit and within minutes there was a chance of a leveller; a great ball across the face of goal from Fredriksen found the arriving Matty Tymon but the young striker's touch was blocked by Connor Ripley in the Boro goal.

However, with just ten minutes on the clock, Pools were level and the equaliser arrived in some style.

Fredriksen flicked into the path of Jonny Rowell in a central position and the midfielder produced a clever step-over, exchanged passes with Tymon and then skipped his way past several red shirts to calmly slot home the leveller.

There were chances for both teams in the remainder of a bright first half - Jonathan Franks poked a Didier Digard ball wide of target while for Pools the impressive Fredriksen saw his curling effort held by Ripley after a short corner.

Tymon should have made it 2-1 to Pools when another Fredriksen ball in from the left fell perfectly at the striker's feet but he mis-kicked his volleyed effort and skewed the ball wide of target from close range.

There was another chance for West's side just before the interval when Fredriksen again fed Tymon with a top pass and, while Tymon executed a great turn and shot, Ripley blocked the effort.

Pools took the lead shortly after the break when Rowell sent a teasing ball over the top to set Tymon running in on goal and the striker did well to slot home from close range on the volley with his left foot.

At the other end, Richard Smallwood had the ball in the back of the net for Boro later in the half with a stunning curling effort but the referee had already blown his whistle for an Alan Power foul on Digard.

But Pools were soon 3-1 up and once again that man Fredriksen was at the heart of it; the Norwegian winger fizzed a pacy free kick into the box from the right by line and his ball created havoc in the box as it headed goalwards, with Colin Larkin getting the final touch as the ball hit the back of the net.

Middlesbrough pulled a goal back when Rowell played a sloppy back pass allowing Franks to run through and slide home across goal and into the bottom right corner of Mark Cook's net.

Neil Austin, skipper for the evening, was involved in the main action at both ends in the run-up to the end of the game.

The former Darlington man saw his well-hit free-kick clip the top of the bar at one end while at the other, a short back pass allowed Franks again to run in on goal but this time the striker sent his effort narrowly wide of target to spare Austin's blushes. 

Pools deserved victory this evening and watching Director of Sport Chris Turner will have taken many positives from this game ahead of Saturday's First Team clash with Walsall.

Full Time: Pools 3 Middlesbrough 2

Pools: Cook, Sharples, Austin, Marron, Purvis, Larkin, Power, Rowell, Fredriksen, Tymon (Wakefield 85), Greulich
Subs Not Used: Thomas, Liddle, Mason

Middlesbrough: Ripley, Atkinson, Gibson, Smallwood, Pogatetz (Oliver 71), Weldon, Williams, Digard (Pilatos 71), Franks, Martin, Porritt
Sub Not Used: Shead