Michael Mackay's double-strike could not help Pools Reserves to victory in their second game of the new season at Grimsby.

The striker led a Pools fightback after Ian Butterworth's men found themselves three goals down in the second half but it wasn't enough and it ended 3-2.

Town were ahead early in the second period when they reacted quickest following a Jamie Clark free-kick which smacked against the crossbar - Peter Bore slamming home the rebound.

And Bore double his and Grimsby's tally moments later when he ran strongly at the Pools defence before unleashing a calm finish past Arran Lee-Barrett.

It got worse for Pools when Town's Nathan Jarman got on the end of a right-wing cross to send a header home and give the hosts a three-goal advantage.

Mackay broke the offside trap and finished coolly to bring Pools back in to it and there was more hope when the striker burst through once again to score and make it 3-2.

However, it was too little too late and Pools were consigned to their second consecutive Reserve defeat of the season.

"It was pretty even in the first half but we gave away some poor goals after the break," Ian Butterworth told the Official Website.

"The lads kept going to their credit and got two back but we were poor defensively today," he added.

Full Time: Grimsby Town 3 Pools 2

Pools: Lee-Barrett, Trevena, Horner, Gott, Clark, Turnbull, Young, Gibb, Mackay, Race, Monkhouse.

Subs not used: Allison, Haigh, Ruddy, Rowell, Tait.