With a largely inexperienced team in the second half, Hartlepool United lost for the first time in their preseason campaign against Scarborough Athletic striker Frank Mulhern’s 26-minute hat trick.
Following a goalless first half, Pools manager Darren Sarll made nine substitutions, benching most of his starting lineup. Mulhern, a former Spennymoor Town striker, scored goals in the 51st, 71st, and 77th minutes. After a foul at a corner kick in the 68th minute, midfield playmaker Anthony Mancini’s penalty pulled Pools and the hosts of National League North even for a brief period of time.
By then a 10th change saw midfielder Greg Sloggett, whose signing was only confirmed 24 hours earlier, replacing Nathan Sheron after 56 minutes for his Hartlepool debut.
The first half was understandably the more promising of the two from a Pools perspective with home keeper Ryan Whitley saving impressively from Pools striker Mani Dieseruvwe after nine minutes.
Sarll said afterwards that it was “difficult to give a generic assessment” on the performance given that he fielded two largely different teams – including three triallists – at “completely different stages”. Speaking to the club’s website, he said: “If I were to surmise it would have to be in two phases.
The first half was a really good pre season game because it had that edge to it and when either team called it on the opponent responded and responded again so it had that nice competitiveness today which sometimes you do not get in pre season.
“A lot of that stuff in the first half was about making sure defensively we are fundamentally assured and correct.
“Apart from that shot from distance that hit the bar we did a few good things out of possession.
“In possession, we are still too rushed. That is not their fault, that is my fault because I am asking them to play really high intensity. They will slow down with that.
