HARTLEPOOL United’s pre-season preparations ended with a single goal defeat to Chesterfield.

Pools, after being thumped at home by Scunthorpe and then shipping five at Gateshead last weekend, were much improved against League One opponents.

Ahead of next weekend’s League Two opener with Morecambe at Victoria Park, boss Ronnie Moore was satisfied with his side’s display.

Defensively, Pools have spent a lot of time on the training ground in the last week and it showed as their back line looked a lot more solid.

Pools were beaten by a goal on 74 minutes. Midfielder Sam Morsy broke from deep into the area and took a touch from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake to wrongfoot keeper Adam Bartlett.

With Trevor Carson injured in training on Friday, he suffered a toe injury and will have an X-ray on Monday, Bartlett gave a competent display and could start the season between the posts.

Billy Paynter, up front with Rakish Bingham, wasted a chance to put Pools ahead. Michael Woods displayed good skill to open up space in midfield and the ball was sprayed wide to the advancing Michael Duckworth. His shot was saved and Paynter took the loose ball on the turn, but fired over.

Then Rakish Bingham was played in behind the back four, and the ball sat up to halt his progress. He laid the ball off for Carl Magnay, but he cracked his shot well wide.

Pools could easily have levelled after going behind. Nicky Featherstone broke into the area and rolled the ball across goal and out of reach of Paynter.

Duckworth returned the ball to the area and Featherstone’s finish from close range was somehow stopped on the line by keeper Tommy Lee.

Moore said: “We were a lot better than we have been and we showed determination.

“If we had carried on the way we were in recent games, we would have lost by five today – instead they have took on board what we have been working on in training and it showed.

“We defended well at times and the players know what we want from them. We played some great football, had chances and I’m happy with the display.’’

Hartlepool United: Bartlett; Worley, Harrison, Bates; Duckworth, Magnay (Walker 83), Woods, Featherstone, Carroll; Paynter (Oates 84), Bingham (Fenwick 84). Subs: Nearney, Smith, Denton (gk)

Chesterfield: Lee; Talbot, Evatt, Ariyibi (Raglan 46), Jones; Banks (Onovwigun 84), Gardney, Morsy, Hird (Humphreys 84); Ebanks-Blake (Harrison 78) , O’Shea (Gnanduillet 77).

Attendance: 1269