Goals from debutants Will Harris and Jack Nolan sealed an Enterprise National League opening-day win for Hartlepool United against Barrow at Victoria Park.
A 39th-minute opener from Harris was followed by Nolan’s 85th-minute strike as Lee Clark’s first league game in charge ended with a victory and clean sheet.
The Pools boss opted to start seven summer signings against the Cumbrian outfit, including last season’s loanee Cameron John.
Despite a lively opening to the match, there was a lack of clear-cut chances for both sides, with Nolan firing wide from outside the box on 20 minutes.
But Pools found the breakthrough late in the first half when – after a clever free-kick from Jamie Miley – Brooklyn Ilunga’s cross from the left flank was cleared only to Harris, whose half-volley arrowed home into the top-left corner.
Minutes later, though, the Bluebirds almost responded when Innes Cameron was released one-on-one with Max Merrick – but his chipped effort drifted wide.
Just past the hour mark, Scott Smith’s close-range finish for Barrow was quickly ruled out for offside, before Max Kouogun saw his header from Nolan’s teasing set-piece denied by Ben Winterbottom on 76 minutes.
But with five minutes of normal time to go, Nolan doubled the advantage for Pools, coolly placing home into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the box.
And it was nearly three for Clark’s side midway through injury time, with Nathan Sheron’s powerful strike inside the Barrow box stopped by Winterbottom.
A brilliant opening day for Pools sealing all three points with a midweek National League Cup fixture against Middlesbrough coming on Tuesday night.
Pools: Merrick, Benn (Eccleston 49’), John, Hunter (C) (Sheron 77’), McNally, Ilunga, Miley, Harris (Bondo 77’), Nolan, Popov (Hugill 62’), Gibson (Kouogun 61’)
Unused subs: Fisher, McKeown
Goalscorers: Harris (39’), Nolan (85’)
