HARTLEPOOL UNITED 4
BARNSLEY 0
Billingham Town FC

YOUNGSTER Rueben Lazarus was an inch away from marking his first start for the reserves with a goal but the 15-year-old starlet could not prevent the Reds' second string from an opening day defeat against Hartlepool.

With the Reds trailing to Michael Mackay's 22nd minute opener, Lazarus looked to drag his team back into it and burst through the Hartlepool defence before smashing a shot against the upright, back against defender Joe Tait and could only watch as the ball rebounded off the opposite post and somehow stayed out.

Hartlepool also smacked the woodwork for the home side before Mackay snatched a second just after the restart when keeper Jan Budtz long ball caught the Reds defence napping and the striker was able find a yard of space before beating Kyle Letheren with a low drive.

Letheren was beaten again on 55 minutes when Jonny Rowell's cross from the left wing caught the keeper out and the ball dropped in at the far post. Alan Power wrapped the game up with a powerful drive on the hour mark.

Hartlepool United: Budtz, McCunnie, Tait, Sharple, Young, Robson, Power, Rowell, Ellison (Martin 74), Foley (Scaife 76), Mackay
Subs: Cook, Blackford

Barnsley: Letheren, Reffin, Atkinson, Grundy, Mellor, Butterfield, Adam, Lazarus (Bennett 74), Evans, Taylor (Warburton 81), Hilton
Subs: Crapper, Fearnehough, Scargill.