00:00Just in Greater Manchester where I've just watched Hart and Liverpool United continue their impressive start to the new National League season with a commanding 2-0 victory over an Altrincham side who have become perennial playoff contenders under impressive manager Phil Parkinson.
00:19It's been a difficult summer for the Robins, there's no doubt about that. They lost leading scorer Regan Linney who scored 24 times in a hugely impressive campaign last term as well as creator-in-chief Alex Newby who scored 15 goals and provided 15 assists while popular winger Justin Amaluza left to join League 2 Grimsby.
00:40However, Pools have lost big players of their own. Manny Disarue of course who scored 43 goals in 89 games left to sign for Rochdale earlier this summer while the indefatigable Joe Gray went to join title favourites York City.
00:54At the end of last season and the beginning of the summer it would have been hard to imagine Pools producing such a dominant performance against an Altrincham side who have aspirations of once again challenging for the top 7.
01:06Pools were in chaos at the end of the previous campaign but they were in complete control in Greater Manchester on Tuesday night.
01:16Simon Grayson made one change as Maxime Coogan was handed his first start in the heart of the Pools defence as Tom Parks who conceded a penalty against Braintree on Saturday was dropped to the bench to be rested.
01:29Pools were particularly in the first half supremely impressive. It was a pretty complete performance in the opening 45 and Pools raced into a 2 goal lead thanks to Alex Reid who opened the scoring in the 5th minute.
01:42With his second Pools goal in as many games after Jamie Miley's exquisite defence splitting pass.
01:49Pools doubled their advantage on the stroke of half time when Reece McNally headed substitute Matty Daly's corner beyond Luke Hutchinson and into the back of the Altrincham net.
02:00There was one moment of concern for Pools in the opening period.
02:03J. Ben so impressive since signing from Lincoln in the summer was forced off after 19 minutes with what looks like a muscle injury.
02:12Matty Daly replaced him, took up his familiar role as the number 10 in behind the front two.
02:17While Jermaine Francis who had been causing problems in that position was deployed as a makeshift wing back where he was outstanding for 70 minutes despite Ultringham's best efforts to isolate him.
02:27The second half for Pools was more about being well organised and resolute.
02:32At times they had to ride their luck and Harvey Cartwright who's been almost faultless since signing on a season long loan from Championship side Hull City on the eve of the new season had to make a couple of decent saves.
02:44Particularly from former Pools man Tom Crawford and substitute Jimmy Knowles late on.
02:49However it never really felt as though the result was in doubt.
02:52Pools are up to second in the National League table and have made an almost perfect start picking up seven points from the first nine available without conceding a goal.
03:02The bank holiday weekend is up next.
03:05A notorious nemesis for Pools fans will know all about the role that weekend can play in derailing a positive start to the season however Simon Grayson side will be hoping to avoid a similar fate this time around.
03:18They host Woking who have lost all of their opening three matches on Saturday before travelling to World Fantasy Southend on Monday.
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