Pools took the lead against their Premiership neighbours after Matty Robson took advantage of some slack defending to coolly lift the ball over Shay Given.



Danny Wilson's team were the better side in the remainder of the first half until Newcastle equalised five minutes before the interval through the impressive of Damien Duff.

Duff doubled his tally eight minutes after the break and then debutant Danny Guthrie made it two in two minutes with a deflected effort. Irish winger Duff then completed his hat-trick in the 87th minute.

Both sides had chances to add to their tally in the closing stages, with Pools showing signs of fatigue after the rigours of their Scottish pre-season tour.

Sam Collins was handed the captain's armband ahead of Ritchie Humphreys who also started the game.

Wilson made six changes to his lineup, with Arran Lee-Barrett taking the goalkeeper's jersey and Jamie McCunnie coming in at right-back.

James Brown, who scored against Newcastle in the same fixture last year, partnered Joel Porter up front with the Vic getting a first glimpse of new signing Ritchie Jones who started in midfield.

Newcastle fielded a strong team included the likes of Damien Duff, Alan Smith, Obafemi Martins and Nicky Butt.

New Magpies signing Danny Guthrie was on the bench for Kevin Keegan's side.

Pools also made a breakthrough within the first two minutes when Robson's cross was headed back by Sweeney and Taylor made a vital interception just as Brown was shaping to shoot.

Robson blasted wide from just outside the box in the eighth minute after a horribly slack crossfield ball by Nicky Butt.

Martins had Newcastle's first effort on goal 10 minutes in, taking advantage of a loose header by Collins and advancing down the right before coming inside and hitting an outside of the boot left footer which screwed comfortably wide of the post.

Lee-Barrett was forced into action in the 16th minute after Pools were split open by a clever through-ball from Duff. Charles N'Zogbia picked up the ball in the inside left channel and fired one across the goal which was saved low down by Lee-Barrett.

Pools took advantage of some poor positional play by Newcastle right-back David Edgar to go straight up the pitch and take the lead. Porter played a beautiful ball inside for ROBSON who lost the attentions of Edgar and scythed through the static Newcastle defence before lifting the ball calmly over Given.

The game suddenly came to life and Lee-Barrett produced a very smart piece of goalkeeping to deny Newcastle an equaliser. Martins sprinted down the left channel before coming inside Clark, only for the Pools stopper to come out and palm it away from the striker's feet.

Given needed to be alert to stop Brown doubling Pools' lead after the striker collected Porter's exquisite through-ball only for the Newcastle stopper to rush out like a train and clear the ball.

Newcastle equalised five minutes before the interval after by far their best piece of football of the half. Milner slipped DUFF in down the right-hand channel with an inch perfect pass and the Irish winger came inside Humphreys before curling one into the far corner with the inside of his left foot from the edge of the area.

Ben Clark was forced to clear off the line seconds later after he collided with Martins and Lee-Barrett on the penalty spot. The ball looked to be rolling over the goal-line only for Clark to rush back and clear behind.

Newcastle were on the ascendancy and it took a smart stop by Lee-Barrett to prevent them taking the lead after N'Zogbia let fly with a rocket from 25 yards.

HALF-TIME Pools 1 Newcastle 1

Newcastle took the lead eight minutes after the interval. Milner played the ball over the top for DUFF who got the wrong side of McCunnie and planted it past Lee-Barrett for his second.

GUTHRIE marked his first appearance in a Newcastle shirt by making it two in to minutes for the Magpies. Guthrie picked up the ball 25 yards out and scuffed a shot which deflected off Clark and rolled into the corner.

Brown should have pulled one back for Pools immediately but he put his free header from Humphreys' free-kick wide of the post.

Shola Ameobi then somehow to contrived miss an open goal. The Newcastle substitute held off Humphreys, rounded Lee-Barrett and then unbelievably managed to back-heel the ball when all he had to do was pass it into the empty net.

Brown continued to look a threat for Pools and forced a low save from Magpies substitute Forster after having a dip from 25 yards.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Duff, who was Newcastle's sharpest player throughout, struck the bar as his cross looped over Lee-Barrett.

DUFF capped an impressive performance by completing his hat-trick three minutes before the final whistle after playing a one-two with Ameobi and curling a shot into the far corner.

FULL-TIME Pools 1 Newcastle 4

Pools: Lee-Barrett, McCunnie (Foley 55), Humphreys, Clark, Collins (Nelson 68), Sweeney (Power 82), Liddle, Jones (Boland 55), Robson (Monkhouse 76), Brown (Mackay 85), Porter (Barker 76). Subs: Rowell, Budtz.

Newcastle: Given (Forster 65), Enrique (Guthrie h/t), Cacapa (Morris 72), Taylor, Edgar (Tozer 63), Duff, N'Zogbia, Milner, Butt, Smith, Martins (Ameobi h/t). Subs: Danquah, Doninger, Godsmark, Lough.

Referee Graham Laws (Tyne and Wear)

Attendance: 4,249