Hartlepool Defeated By Telstar In Opening Friendly

Hartlepool started their pre-season campaign with a defeat as they were comfortably beaten by Dutch side Telstar in Heiloo.

Pools boss Neale Cooper started the game with a side containing a mix of youth and experience, with youngster Dominic Scott starting the game in goal after concerns over the fitness of Scott Flinders.

Telstar, who finished 15th in the Dutch second tier last season, were keen to play a passing game and took the lead just before the break through former Arsenal man Rhys Murphy.

Released by the London side in the summer, Irishman Murphy grabbed his first goal for Telstar with a curling effort on 40 minutes.

Neale Cooper made a number of changes to his team but was unable to prevent them from falling further behind midway through the second half. The second goal coming as a Sergio Hoefdraad free-kick from just outside the area took a deflection before nestling in the back of the net.

FT: Telstar 2 Hartlepool 0

Hartlepool: Scott, Richards, Collins, Johnson, Horwood, Franks, Sweeney, Walton, Poole, Howard, James.
Subs: Hartley, Holden, Austin, Baldwin, Buddle, Murray, Humphreys, Monkhouse, Rutherford, Nish, Wignall.

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