Hartlepool United Women picked up their second win of pre-season, defeating Ripon City 4-3 at Grayfields. Goals from Demi Fielding, Atalia Robinson, Zara Johnson and Lauren Gray helped Pools to see off a late Ripon fightback.
Craig Bage's side took the lead just five minutes in. Pools broke with pace through Jess Bage down the right hand side, Bage played through Demi Fielding and the striker hit a powerful effort that was too strong for the Ripon keeper to handle. Ripon hit back with an immediate leveller. Chloe Bethell got the better of Laura Keogh down the wing and struck an effort from range past Pools' goalkeeper to make it 1-1.
Pools weren't disheartened by the equaliser and regained their lead in the 16th minute. Liv Bell found Atalia Robinson unmarked in the box and the Pools number six hit a curling first time strike into the top corner.
After a somewhat scrappy spell in the game, Pools extended their lead to 3-1 with an attacking move of real quality. Bell and Robinson linked up well to send Lauren Gray down the right, Gray squared low across the box for Zara Johnson to tap in at the back post.
Pools went 4-1 ahead in the 52nd minute, Lauren Gray hit a powerful free kick that sailed above the Ripon goalkeeper and into the roof of the net.
In a chaotic two minute spell during the second half, Pools had the ball cleared off the line three times in quick succession. First, Michaela Garvey looked to hook the ball in from close range but her shot was headed over the bar by a player on the line. From the resulting corner, Atalia Robinson swung the ball into the box and Demi Fielding's driven header was again blocked on the goal line.
Shortly after, it was Robinson's turn to be frustrated. The striker beat the Ripon goalkeeper to a long ball and looked set to guide the ball into the net but an away defender raced back to clear.
Pools let their guard down in the last ten minutes and gifted Ripon two late goals to make it 4-3. In the 84th minute, Louise Wilson danced through some stand-offish Pools defending and drilled a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Just before the full time whistle, the impressive Chloe Bethell got her second of the game. Pools were caught napping while clearing their lines and Bethell intercepted a clearance to shoot high into the back of the net.