Hartlepool United claimed another pre-season win as they came from a goal down to see off Spennymoor Town on Saturday afternoon.

Lee Clark has reiterated his desire to give Hartlepool United fans a side with a clear identity following his side’s pre-season friendly win at National League North neighbours Spennymoor Town.

An impressive band of travelling support made the trip to Brewery Field and watched their side produce an energetic and hardworking first-half display that failed to provide a reward as the opening 45 minutes ended goalless. That all changed eight minutes after the restart as former Pools duo Danny Johnson and Richie Bennett combined for the latter to fire the hosts in front.

placeholder image — Mark Fletcher | MI News & Sport

However, Pools roared back into the game as summer signing Jack Nolan continued to catch the eye in pre-season with a sumptuous finish after he was found by former Morecambe team-mate Chris Popov. Nolan then won the game for Clark’s men as he converted from the penalty spot with ten minutes remaining after Terry Bondo had been upended in the Moors area.

That was enough to ensure Pools preserved their perfect record in pre-season - but it was the visible signs of improvement in the intensity and energy that left Clark delighted as the new Pools head coach delivered a strong message to supporters ahead of Tuesday night’s visit to National League North newcomers Hebburn Town.

“That’s been the mindset from day one,” he told the club website. “Everything that we have done, we want to create an identity, we want the team to have its own identity so the fans can understand what they are going to get from their team and their group of players. I am really pleased with how they are taking it on board, they’re improving game-by-game. The application and attitude is superb so I am delighted and looking forward to the next one on Tuesday.”

Character

If there was one slight negative from another promising performance, it came with Pools’ inability to open the scoring during an impressive first-half display against Tommy Miller’s men.

The likes of Corey McKeown, Brooklyn Ilunga and Will Harris all went close to grabbing the first goal of the game during the opening period as Clark’s side forced their hosts on to the back foot from the opening exchanges. The Pools boss admitted he will keep working hard to help his side improve in the final third - but also preferred to focus on the character shown by his players as they overturned a one-goal deficit to claim yet another pre-season victory.

He said: “I thought it was exceptional. That first-half performance, how we don’t score a goal in that, it had everything but a goal. The tempo we played at with and without the ball, the quality we showed, the chances we created. If I am being a bit picky, probably our final ball, we will continue to work on that and get improvements in that area - but terrific. The second group came on and ended up turning a one-goal deficit into a win so that shows the character in the squad as well.”

Your next Hartlepool United read: Hartlepool United confirm striker deal as youngster joins Hebburn Town