Pools Reserves played their first game on the new Billingham Town pitch this afternoon and the quality surface - which mirrors that at The Vic - obviously suited them.

Goals from Michael Rae and Ben Clark sealed a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Barnsley for Ian Butterworth's men as they recorded their first win of the new season.

Pools looked the stronger of the teams right from the off, with a lively forward line and Micky Barron and Ben Clark at the heart of a solid defence.

And Butterworth's side had some good first-half chances before eventually taking the lead just after the half-hour mark.

David Foley was first to test the visiting keeper when he fired in a shot from just inside the box but he saw the ball rise high over the bar. Michael Maidens suffered the same fate with his turn and shot from a central position.

Craig Gott made a strong burst forward down the right to whip in a good ball for Michael Rae who arrived at the far post but his header at goal also edged over target.

Scott Allison, making his Pools' debut against Barnsley this afternoon, enjoyed a quiet opener between the sticks - having just one real save to make in the first half when he got down well to block a Jamil Adam shot at goal.

The opening goal came in the 32^nd minute in a move which was an action replay of an earlier chance. Gott made his way down the right wing before putting a great cross in which found Rae at the far post and this time the young striker made no mistake as he nodded home.

Rae almost had his second before the close of the first period when Maidens fed him with a good ball but his side-footed effort went just wide of the near post.

Stephen Turnbull forced a good reaction save out of Kyle Letheren in the dying seconds with a low drive on target as the first half finished with Pools leading 1-0.

It was Butterworth's men who again enjoyed more of the possession after the break and they could well have tested Letheren more with their levels of dominance.

Foley once again had the first chance of the half when he saw a good low ball edge just wide of the far post. Minutes later though and Ben Clark took matters into his own half, bursting forward from the heart of defence to finish a good attacking move.

David Foley fed the ball through to Clark inside the final third, and the big defender then laid it out right for Rae before making his way to the left hand post where he was on hand to nod home past the keeper when Rae sent the ball into the box.

Chances for sub Haigh and Foley just missed target and Matty Robson saw his curling cross/shot tipped over the bar by the keeper as Pools pushed on for the third.

Michael Mackay did have the ball in the back of the net at one point but was denied a goal by the linesman's flag, while Maidens saw his effort to lob the keeper land just on the roof of the net.

Allison played his part in the second half when he showed good reactions to clock a point-blank shot from Rhys Maynell in one of Barnsley's rare chances on goal but the visitor's found no way through a resolute defensive line.

Pools 2 Barnsley 0

Pools: Allison, Gott, Barron (Tait 84), Clark, Robson, Maidens, Turnbull (Rowell 76), Young, Foley, Mackay, Rae (Haigh 57)

Subs Not Used: Proudlock, Race, Tait