Our Pools writer, Dominic Scurr, has dished out his player ratings – with a look at how the club’s five new signing and trio of triallists fared on their first outing of the new campaign. Scroll down and click through the pages to see who shone and struggled for Craig Hignett’s side in the friendly at Billingham:
5. Mark Kitching - 7
The only Pools player to play more than 45-minutes, Kitching enjoyed a steady evening at left-back before being replaced by young Harrison Webster after an hour. Photo: Ian Randall
6. Nicky Featherstone - 7
A solid pre-season opener from the 30-year-old in the middle of the park. Launched a couple of promising attacks and played a great through ball for Gime Toure which should have resulted in the opening goal. Photo: Steven Hadlow
7. Gavan Holohan - 8
Always positive and proactive with the ball at his feet with forward runs into the box and was rewarded with a goal on the stroke of half-time. Pools’ standout player in the first half. Photo: FRANK REID
8. Luke Molyneux - 8
Pools’ biggest threat in the opening 45 from the right flank. Molyneux displayed the excitement and threat that made Craig Hignett desperate to bring the winger back to the Super 6 Stadium and opened the scoring with a fine solo goal though should have had more. Photo: Frank Reid