Young Pools progress in the FA Youth Cup following an impressive 4-0 victory over Hebburn Town at the Trustmark Group Stadium.
The visitors made a fast start, with Joe Rukin opening the scoring after just nine minutes.
Pools maintained their first-half momentum, scoring twice in the space of two minutes. Captain James Spark doubled the lead on the half-hour mark with a superb strike, and Rukin added his second of the evening shortly afterwards to make it three.
The second half was a display of composure and game management. Luis McCoy’s side controlled the tempo throughout the second 45 minutes while remaining a threat going forward.
After fifteen minutes of patient possession, a fourth goal followed, with Maxi Ellis showing sharp awareness at the back post to flick the ball into the net from close range.
Rukin came close to completing his hat-trick with a quarter of an hour remaining after an excellent team move, but his effort carried too much power and sailed over the crossbar.
HUFC XI: Hood, Dunn, Azeez, Khrystenko, Standing, Spark (c), Ellis, Ogle, Rukin, Garland, Raitt.
Substitutions: Williams, Loynes, Aqua, Taylor, Huggins, Swift, Soliman.
