A rollercoaster of a pre season for Pools ended in a positive as they came out victorious against National League North side Gateshead FC.
The game ended 1-4 in Pools favour at the Gateshead International Stadium in which turned out to be a comfortable and dominant 90 minutes for Dave Challinor's men.
The first chance of the game came just after two minutes as Pools attacked through Ryan Donaldson on the right hand side, he was able to cross into the box and Parkhouse's header was directed stright into the keepers hands. A good start nonetheless for the men in all green today.
Gateshead's only real clear cut chance of the first half came on the 15 minute mark as some miscommunication from the Pools backline allowed the Heed a clear run on Ben Killips goal but it was Odusina who was able to recover well and tame the shot with a good block.
Pools continued to dominant possession and on 23 minutes they should have capitalised on some good build play. Parkhouse found himself through on goal down the right channel of the box, his effort looped over the Gateshead keeper but it was cleared of the line and then the follow up header from Holohan was directed over.
It was just five minutes later Pools were able to break the deadlock as Nicky Featherstone took the corner from the left hand side, the ball bounced around in the box and it was Liddle who was finally able to poke it home for Pools. A deserved 1-0 lead.
Just three minutes later Pools did have the ball in the back of the net again after Parkhouse met Fergusons cross to finish but the linesman already had his flag up to deem it offside.
Half time: Gateshead 0-1 Pools
The teams came back out for the second half with Gateshead oddly in a complete change of kit. Despite this, Pools started the second half exactly the way they ended the first with the control of the possession.
It didn't take Pools long to grab their second as on 48 minutes Holohan found himself in all sorts of space on the left hand side, he was able to get the ball out his feet and cross it to the back post where young striker Joe Grey reacted well and finished the chance to get his first goal for the club and make it 2-0.
Pools never looked like slowing down as continued to pressure Gateshead well whenever they were in possession and it was on 64 minutes when they won the ball back well, slipped in Parkhouse and the young Irish international was able to calmly finish it into the bottom left corner for goal number three.
Gateshead would continue to try to get back into the game and on 70 minutes they were able to calve out a chance but this was met by a outstanding save by Killip who was alert after not having to do much throughout the game.
Gateshead continued to threaten but on 80 minutes Pools were able to win the ball back in the middle of the park, Crawford picked his head up and played a great ball through for Ofosu who was bale to continue his fine form during pre season to tuck the ball in underneath the keeper to make it 4-0.
With the last kick of the game, the Pools defence switched off for a moment and Gateshead forward Langstaff was bale to pull one back for the hosts with a tody finish into the bottom right corner.
Overall, a dominant performance from Pools and a good win to end pre season as we not turn our hopeful attention to next Saturday.
Full time: Gateshead 1-4 Hartlepool United