HARTLEPOOL RES 5 CITY RES 0

HE WAS the only senior face on the pitch even though his name was misspelt on the team sheet.

But Rory McArdle was just happy to be back out there on his comeback after four months out, completing his first 90 minutes since the play-off second leg at the Den.

The environment could not have been more different this afternoon in the sunshine of Billingham Town.

It was as low key a return as they come in a City team filled with apprentices. The only other pro on duty was Vincent Rabiega.

Wearing some protection for his left shoulder, McArdle’s first involvement was a no-nonsense sliding tackle on winger Jack Blackford inside the box.

The centre half tried to keep the ball on the floor in keeping with the passing style preached by Stuart McCall – there were only a couple of long balls sent in Rabiega’s direction.

But it was usual business in the air where McArdle won his headers without the shoulder being put in any discomfort.

Hartlepool hit the bar in the first minute through Connor Smith and looked the more threatening side throughout.

Blackford, who had trials with Manchester City and Aston Villa last season, was a danger with his pace cutting in from the left.

City did not offer much going the other way and Rabiega got little change from imposing centre half Isaac Assenso.

But he nearly broke the deadlock after 38 minutes when clever play from Kwame Boateng cut Hartlepool open.

He squared to Rabiega who took a touch inside the box before shooting but keeper Ryan Catterick got enough on it to divert the ball round the post.

Hartlepool then took control with two goals in as many minutes at the start of the second half from Jake Orrell.

The striker nodded in at the near post from Connor Smith’s cross and then latched on to a hesitation from Ben Pollock’s long ball to round stranded keeper George Sykes-Kenworthy for a second.

A very different City side had conceded five after the break at Burton the week before and Hartlepool were in the mood to follow suit. Sykes-Kenworthy saved well with his legs from Blackford after Niah Payne was caught on his heels by the keeper’s throw-out.

But Sykes-Kenworthy had no chance with Hartlepool’s third after 74 minutes, Walker turning McArdle and then unleashing a 25-yard blast into the top corner.

Orrell then prodded his hat-trick from Blackford’s through ball before McArdle threw himself in the way to deny Connor Smith and Sykes-Kenworthy thwarted Liam Travers.

But Hartlepool still had time to match Burton's haul from the opening reserve game when Smith scored from close range in stoppage time.

CITY RES: Sykes-Kenworthy, Windle, Warren, Gardezi (Taglione 65), McArdle, Wright, Moilanen, Boateng, Rabiega, Powell, Payne.