At last - Pools break their friendly duck at Gateshead

After four defeats, Hartlepool United at last broke their pre-season duck with a 2-1 victory at Gateshead. Managers always say that results aren't as important as performances in games like this, but losing is always a bad habit to get into and Chris Turner would be a lot happier with his team's showing at the International Stadium than with some of their other pre-season games.

Andy Monkhouse gave Pools the lead in the first half and new boy Denis Behan got the second soon after half-time, both of them headers, but Gateshead narowed the gap late on in what turned out to be a good workout for Pools.
Richie Jones, who asked for a transfer earlier this week after being overlooked in a lot of the pre-season games, got a full 90 minutes and Jomes btrown went on as a sub in his long-awaited comeback.
Trouble was, Antony Sweeney was playing right-back again and everybody knows he's more use as a midfield player, triallist Dan Smith at left-back is not the answer, and a few players we are expecting a lot from in the new season do not yet look ready.
Or are they saving themselves?
Still, there's over a week to go yet, eh....