Hartlepool United kick off National League campaign with impressive Barrow triumph

And so it begins. After a summer of widespread change and overwhelming positivity, Hartlepool United approached their National League opener against Barrow buoyed by a simmering sense of expectation. There is a refreshing feeling of newness that has swept around Victoria Park in recent times - a new owner, a new manager, a glut of new players, but perhaps most prominent of all, a new measure of hope.

To that end, Saturday afternoon - playing on an immaculate pitch beneath a cloudless blue sky in front of a raucous 5,830-strong crowd - felt like a perfect opportunity for Pools to outline their credentials, not just as a rejuvenated project, but as potential promotion contenders too. A 2-0 win against their recently relegated opponents did the trick nicely in that regard.

The opening exchanges, full-blooded as they were, passed with little in the way of incident, and neither goalkeeper would be called into notable action until Jack Nolan’s tame effort was comfortably patted down by Ben Winterbottom in the 18th minute. The winger would go close again moments later, driving an attempt just wide of the post from distance. At the other end, Barrow’s first real glimpse of promise didn’t come until shortly before the half-hour mark, but Innes Cameron could only flick his looping header just beyond Max Merrick’s near post.

When the opener did arrive, it fell the way of the hosts. A quickly taken free-kick on the left released the electric Brooklyn Ilunga, who scampered to the byline and fired a cross back to a waiting Will Harris. The striker composed himself admirably before rifling an emphatic strike into the top corner. Lift off.

Pools could, however, have conceded an equaliser just seconds later. A loose moment in the engine room allowed Cameron to race through unopposed, but his scooped effort cleared the crossbar of a grateful Merrick.

After the interval, the home side had to weather their fair share of turbulence. Jay Benn and Liam Gibson both succumbed to injury before the hour-mark, and Barrow had a goal ruled out as Merrick parried a shot from range into the path of Scott Smith, who was deemed offside, much to the chagrin of the travelling support.

As the contest wore on, it stretched accordingly, and Pools would go close next, with substitute Maxim Kouogun directing a header into Winterbottom’s gloves from a devilish Nolan set-piece.

But as Barrow toiled to no avail in their hunt for an equaliser, it would be the ever-lively winger who put the contest beyond the visitors. After a decent period of Pools pressure, a loose ball fell to their number 17 on the edge of the penalty area, and his first time left-footed finish could hardly have been placed better, clipping the inside of the post as it trickled beyond Winterbottom.

Seven minutes of added time would follow, and substitute Nathan Sheron would sting the Barrow keeper’s palms with a fierce volley, but otherwise, Clark’s men were content to keep their rivals at arm’s length for the most part, and when the final whistle did eventually sound, they were good value for an opening day victory brimming with intent.