JON Daly is finally reaping the rewards of a full pre-season campaign.

The big striker joined Hartlepool last February from Stockport and scored the winner in the weekend's win at Doncaster.

That goal came on the back of his header in the play-off final last season and a goal on the final day of the season that helped Pool into the play-offs.

Daly impressed at both Belle Vue and Bournemouth in his two starts this campaign and the big Irishman admitted: "I took time to adapt when I came here. When I came here in February I was lacking match fitness. That's the reason why I had a slow start.

"This season, I've had a full and good pre-season under my belt which has helped me no end because I missed the last two through injury and was always playing catch up.

"Now I'm in the team, it's my aim to stay there.''

Martin Scott has a welter of options in the forward line this season and, with Joel Porter yesterday stepping up his rehabilitation from a knee injury with a 25-minute run out in a friendly with Sunderland, competition for places is strong.

Adam Boyd has started the last two games on the bench and Daly admitted: "It's going to be tough for the manager to make his choice on who to play up front and it's up to the strikers to make it difficult for him.

"I'd like to think I am doing that now. We have a great squad here now and we are lucky to sign the new players who came in over the summer as well. They have all added something else.

"Last week was a difficult week for us - I didn't get home until 6am on Wednesday from Bournemouth, then we were in for a warm down on the afternoon.

"It was a long trip on a Tuesday night, so to recover and get a win at Doncaster was very encouraging.''

Mark Tinkler (40 minutes) and Hugh Robertson (60 minutes) were both involved in yesterday's behind closed doors game.

Pool's reserves under Steve Agnew start their season against Scarborough this afternoon at Billingham Town (2pm).

l Alan Harrison has managed to turn back time in a bid to earn a contract at Darlington after battling back from a career-threatening injury.

Harrison first joined the club on trial over a year ago, but his hopes of being offered a deal were curtailed when the left-back broke a leg in an accidental clash with Quakers' Joe Kendrick, in a friendly against Bradford City.

It was his second game after being released by Middlesbrough but having suffered the serious injury in such circumstances - without an employer - his career prospects appeared bleak.

But manager David Hodgson empathised with Harrison's plight and handed the youngster a contract and now the defender finally finds himself in with a chance of joining Quakers.

On Monday he kicked a ball for the first time in 13 months during Darlington's 3-2 reserve team win at Grimsby and Darlington assistant manager Mark Proctor is pleased to give his ex-Boro youth team player a chance.

"He's a left-sided full-back who is very good on the ball and likes to get forward. A defender may not be a priority because in all honesty the agenda has changed since he first came to the club," said Proctor.

"But in the circumstances it is only right that we give him another chance."It was a fantastic gesture by David (Hodgson) and the club to offer him a contract."