Pools' Academy side ended the regular EFL Youth Alliance season with a 3-2 win away to Doncaster Rovers. Alfie Steel scored a brace, while Noah Gilbraith bagged his first Academy goal.
Ian McGuckin named four changes from Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to Grimsby Town. Ollie Duthie, Gilbraith, Joe Aungiers and Eddie Ormerod entered the starting line-up.
With Louis Stephenson called up to the first team and Campbell Darcy suspended, Pools were set to be challenged defensively and they found themselves behind after three minutes. Jaiden Campbell-Ryce and Will Flint combined to pick out Kenneth Imariagbe at the back post, and the Rovers man showed great technique to lift the ball into the back of the net.
Pools found an equaliser in the 10th minute however through frontman Steel. A misplaced pass was picked up by Aungiers in the middle, and his threaded pass was coolly tucked home by Steel in front of goal.
Chances were at a premium for the rest of the first half, but the second period started in frantic fashion. Twenty seconds after the restart, Flint sent a long ball forward for Doncaster however Imariagbe's strike just missed the top corner.
At the other end of the pitch, Max Storey proved to be a threat to the Rovers defence all afternoon. Home goalkeeper Jake Oram made two good stops to deny the attacker, from a low drive and a scramble in the box.
And Storey's presence caused a mistake on 69 minutes as he charged down Flint in the Doncaster backline. The loose ball fell to Steel, who went through and slotted past the keeper to give Pools a 2-1 lead.
Pools continued to pile on the pressure as Chris Lynn forced a brilliant save from Oram with a fierce free-kick.
Lynn stood over another free-kick on 77 minutes from a wide position, and this time the left-back's ball dropped into the box where a lurking Gilbraith slammed home at close-range. The under-16 defender, making his first start for the Academy team, doubled the away side's advantage.
There was still some late drama to be played out, however. Imariagbe was sent off in the 88th minute for Rovers after a second yellow card, while Kasper Williams pulled one back in stoppage time.
McGuckin's side held out for the victory though, and now await the release of their final fixtures of the season.
Pools: Wilkinson (Green 85), Duthie, Lynn, Berry (Wood 75), Gilbraith, Grundle, Aungiers, Kitching, Steel, Ormerod (Burnett 75), Storey
Subs (not used): Ingram
