00:01Just making my way back after watching Hartlepool United begin their pre-season campaign with a pretty comfortable 3-0 win over neighbours FC Hartlepool.
00:10The two sides met in pre-season for the second year in a row following the success of last summer's fixture.
00:18And it was certainly another chance for FC Hartlepool to showcase their impressive progression over the last few years in front of a crowd of more than 1,500.
00:26The hosts were well organised and resolute and created a number of decent chances, particularly in the first half, and can be really proud of how they acquitted themselves.
00:37From a pool's perspective, it was effectively two teams in each half, although there were a number of trialists, a couple of whom played the full 90 minutes.
00:49There was no Danny Johnson, although he was at the game and got through a pretty rigorous pre-match routine.
00:55Simon Grayson says he's not quite fit, but he is expected to feature at the weekend.
01:00Jermaine Francis, the latest summer signing, who became the fifth new recruit after signing from Barnett, following a pretty impressive loan spell at Braintree last season, for which he scored against.
01:13Pools is in London at the minute, but is expected to return to the North East on Thursday.
01:18And again, he's in line to feature for the first time when Pools travelled to Whitby this weekend.
01:24A number of standout performances. I thought Brad Walker looked really good in the first half.
01:29If he can get fit and stay fit, then Pools will hope to have a real player on their hands once again.
01:35He was really composed and confident in midfield.
01:38Sam Folarin, who didn't make much of an impact at the back end of last season after signing from Harrogate, was really impressive, showing his pace, scoring and having a hand in another of the goals.
01:50Kian Foreman, who completed the scoring after about an hour, was also impressive.
01:55The youngster produced a nerveless second half cameo, was really adventurous, took on his man very consistently and perhaps will have given Grayson some food for thought.
02:07Speaking to the new man after the game, really positive impression.
02:12First chance to meet the new manager after he replaced Anthony Lindbrick last month.
