Hartlepool United overcame Championship opposition to start their pre-season campaign with a win.
Pools started the game brightly, with Callum Cooke and David Ferguson both seeing shots blocked in quick succession. Trialist A showed some good touches in tight areas, though Boro’s defence stopd strong during the early exchanges.
The breakthrough came in the 24th minute after great work from new signing Chris Wreh. After winning the ball back from the defender, he nutmegged his opposite number and squared for Dieseruvwe to slide it beyond Roberts.
Four minutes later, Pools doubled their lead. Great work out wide found Ferguson wide open in the box, and the skipper slammed the ball into the back of the net. McGree got a shot away for the visitors shortly after, but it wasn’t close enough to cause Dixon any problems.
Dixon was called into action shortly afterwards, getting down to stop McGree’s low free-kick before Callum Cooke fired over at the other end.
After a raft of half-time substitutions, Pools continued on the front foot. Hastie, Ndjoli, and Trialist C tested the Boro defence, while a Tom Crawford free-kick sailed over the bar. Boro had a half-chance through Matthews, but his long-range effort clipped Jameson’s bar and went behind.
A moment of hesitation with second to go let Boro in for a consolation goal, but it didn’t matter the overall result. Pools now look to next week’s encounter with Blyth with further cause for optimism.
First Half Pools XI: Dixon; Dodds, Dolan, Pruti, Ferguson; Wallace, Cooke, Trialist A; Paterson, Dieseruvwe, Wreh
Second Half Pools XI: Jameson; Paterson (Stephenson 65), Pruti, Dodds, Burton; Crawford, Trialist B, Grey; Hastie, Ndjoli (Darcy 90), Trialist C