HARTLEPOOL United captain Micky Barron last night revealed he is keen to make up for lost time after making a welcome return to action as the reserves started the year with a hard-fought win.

The Pool skipper has been sidelined for a month after undergoing knee surgery and came through 75 minutes unscathed in a 2-1 win over Tranmere Rovers in the Pontins Holiday League Premier Division.

The 30-year-old defender has not featured for Pool since the FA Cup win over Aldershot on December 4 and hopes he will be back in contention for the visit of Bristol City at the end of the month.

"I played a bit longer than we had planned but the pitch and the conditions were right," said Barron.

"The Boston game may be just a bit too soon for me as I need more time to wok on my general match fitness and start doing some running in training."

But the Pool right-back is aware he will not walk straight back into Neale Cooper's side, who have gone seven matches unbeaten after Saturday's FA Cup draw with Boston.

"I don't think for one minute that if I was fit the manager would put me in with the lads playing the way they are," he said. "That will hopefully work in my favour as it will give me time to work on my fitness and I could be in contention for the Bristol game. It's been a frustrating season for me.

"Since I've been here I've played 30 to 40 games per season and after two operations I hope that is the end of it and I get back into the manager's plans."

Philip Turnbull opened the scoring for Martin Scott's reserve side with a well-taken 20-yard strike before Andy Appleby doubled the lead on the hour, converting Steven Istead's cross. The home side did pull a goal back through Chris Dagnall but it wasn't enough as Pool avenged the 1-0 defeat from earlier in the campaign.

Reserve team boss Scott was proud of his side's work, saying: "I'm really pleased with the performance of what was a very young team.

"Tranmere are a very good side, so I'm delighted that we got the three points in what was an excellent match."

Pools: Winter, Craddock, Brackstone, S Turnbull, Barron, Low, Istead, P Turnbull, Appleby, J Wilkinson, Robson. Subs: Davison, N Wilkinson, Foley, Fox, Manson.

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