CAPTAIN for the night Darrell Clarke scored twice as a Hartlepool United XI eased to a 4-0 win over Northern League neighbours Billingham Town last night.

Pool fielded a side made up of mainly youth and reserve players, with Clarke, Tony Sweeney and Jack Ross the elder statesmen at Bedford Terrace, the ground where Pool play their reserve fixtures.

And the hosts were given a financial boost with a healthy crowd in attendance to see Pool's first pre-season outing on English soil after two games in Holland last week.

There was a minute's silence before the game began as a mark of respect to Marc Purdy, the Pool fan killed in Amsterdam in the early hours of Saturday morning, shortly after he had watched his side beat FC Eindhoven 2-1.

Steven Istead started that game on the wing, but was up front with David Foley last night and it was the latter, who became Pool's youngest ever player last season when he appeared as a substitute against Port Vale, who opened the scoring. He latched onto a high ball and coolly cut across the penalty area and fired into the net.

Clarke, a new contract under his belt, was enjoying the run out and made it two right on half-time. Collecting the ball just inside the Town half, he ran 30 yards and unleashed a shot that fizzed past keeper Chris Mason.

He made it three with another confidently-stuck long-range effort before being replaced by trainee Michael Rae.

And the substitute soon followed Clarke's example by striking high beyond Mason.

Jack Ross started the game - his first for his new club - at right back and was replaced at half-time.

Pool now go to Scotland for games, with Cooper's old club Ross County providing the opposition on Friday.

* David Batty, the former Leeds United and England international has joined Harrogate Town as its vice president.