HARTLEPOOL United got off to a winning start on their newly-laid surface at Billingham Town.

Pools' reserve side beat Barnsley 2-0, playing at the Ron Greig Stadium for the first time since a £130,000 summer investment and revamp.

Goals from Michael Rae and Ben Clark secured the routine victory. Rae scored first, heading in at the near post, before central defender Clark tore out of defence to finish.

Clark sailed through the 90 minutes and there was a 75-minute outing for Micky Barron.

The club captain has not played this season because of a niggling knee problem, but he slotted in at central defence alongside Clark.

Matty Robson, after suffering a thigh strain in last week's JPT game at Chesterfield, played the full game with no reaction.

Robson hit the bar with a cross from the left and Michael Mackay put the ball in the net, only to be denied by an offside flag.

Both Robson and Clark are in contention for Saturday's home game with Swindon, who have followed Pools out of League One and back again in the last two seasons.

And Ritchie Humphreys admits that, with nine points in the bag and a string of impressive displays, Pools can be more than satisfied with their work to date.

"It has been a pleasing start to the season," he said.

"The two games we've lost, Luton and Leeds away, we have more than held our own against teams that have come down from the Championship.

"Saturday at Leeds was disappointing but we can take positives into any game coming up.''

Hartlepool: Allison, Gott (Tait 84), Clark, Robson, Maidens, Turnbull (Rowell 76), Young, Foley, Mackay, Rae (Haigh). Subs (not used): Proudlock, Race

Clark Keltie is ready to end his injury nightmare by returning to the Darlington squad for the first time since September this weekend.

The midfielder played the full 90 minutes of yesterday's reserves 5-2 defeat at Lincoln City. And the 24-year-old will hope to face the Imps again on Saturday after six months on the sidelines.

Keltie has not played since breaking his hand in the derby defeat at Hartlepool. The Tynesider then suffered a fresh setback when he was told he would require a double hernia operation, ruling him out of Darlington's pre-season campaign.

An ankle injury then further delayed Keltie's first-team return at the beginning of the season. But after coming through yesterday's 5-2 defeat without any problems, Keltie will hope to be involved this weekend.

Scott Wiseman is also back in Penney's thoughts after playing the full game at Sincil Bank.

Neil Wainwright and Kevin McBride were on target for Quakers, who also included French winger Xavier Barrau in their line-up.

Darlington (4-4-2): Oakes; Wiseman, Clarke (Dobby 56), Burgess, Brackstone; McBride, Todd (Hunter 46), Keltie, Wainwright; Reay, Barrau. Subs (not used): Pocklington, Moss, Davis.