CRAIG HARRISON was delighted to see his Hartlepool United players holding their own against Scottish Premier League opposition as their pre-season preparations continued with a 1-0 defeat at St Johnstone.

St Johnstone claimed an early lead through former Sheffield Wednesday striker Steven MacLean, but Pools successfully shackled their opponents for the remainder of the game and came close to claiming an equaliser through a Nicky Deverdicks free-kick.

Harrison named four trialists in his squad – former Middlesbrough trainee Junior Mondal, goalkeeper Matt Gould, Canadian centre-half Kosovar Sadike and defender James Risborough – and was pleased with his players’ performance with the opening game of the National League season now less than a fortnight away.

“I wanted us to be tested, and we certainly were,” said Harrison. “That was a proper game – they finished fourth in the Scottish Premiership last season, and a week ago they beat Sunderland 3-0 here so we’ve done really well.

“It wasn’t like a pre-season game – there were tackles and it was competitive, so I am really happy with the way it went for us.

“We made six or seven subs in the second half, and brought young lads on who came on and did really well, even though they haven’t played a lot of first-team football.

“In the second half we had a few chances – Podge (Padraig Amond) has got in and had a couple of opportunities through his tenacity, and the keeper made a great save from Nicky Deverdics. Overall though, there have certainly been a lot more positives than negatives.”

Pools conceded when MacLean scored from close range in the 12th minute, and Scott Loach was forced to produce a fine save from David Wotherspoon to prevent them falling further behind midway through the first half.

Michael Woods tried his luck for Pools in the first half, and the visitors’ best chance came midway through the second period, with St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Manuss clawing away Deverdics’ free-kick as it looked to be heading for the net.

Hartlepool: Loach (Gould 60), Magnay (Richardson 71), Harrison, Laing (Sadike 60), Blair (Risborough 71), Donaldson (Hawkins 71), Newton (Travers 71), Woods (Featherstone 64), Deverdics, Munns (Mondal 60), Cassidy (Amond 46).