MATTHEW BATES was encouraged by aspects of Hartlepool United’s first pre-season friendly after sending them out with a new system.

Bates was keen to try his players out with a three-man defence and wing-back formation as he fielded seven new signings during the 1-1 draw at Billingham Town.

It was hardly the most impressive of outings on an afternoon when trialist Harry Middleton produced a bit of magic to earn a draw when his fine effort from outside the area cancelled out Hartlepool-born Craig Hutchinson's opener.

Hartlepool missed numerous chances but Bates wasn’t too concerned, suggesting that it was nice to see his players perform in a new formation.

"It was a good workout and we tried a new shape which I thought worked well," said Bates. "Taking the result aside, I thought there was some good stuff.

"The final ball and finishing, that will come, but I'm pleased with the performance.

“We worked on a few things in training which we wanted to see, and we saw them. The wing-backs were high and caused them problems. They were our creative threat a lot of the time.

"I think we dominated the game, dominated the possession of the ball and dominated the territory as well. It would have been nice to win, of course, but it's one of those things."

Pools (first half): Loach, Miller, Davies, Laing, Middleton, Kioso, Newton, Woods, Hawkins, Cassidy, Higgins. (second half): Catterick, Richardson, Magnay, Anderson, Donaldson, Noble, Featherstone, Kitching, McLaughlin (Middleton 55), Hawkes, Muir.