SEVEN pre-season games without defeat, Hartlepool United are ready for an assault on the Third Division.

And why not after Chris Turner's men recorded a comfortable 3-1 win over Nationwide Conference side Morecambe at Christie Park.

Jermaine Easter, a penalty from Ian Clark and a Mark Tinkler strike completed Pool's scoring with substitute Adriano Rigoglioso replying for the home side.

And Turner praised every one of his players' attitudes towards their warm-up campaign after it ended in success on Saturday.

"This is the best pre-season we have had since I have been here," said Turner, who has seen his side win five and draw two since returning to training in early July.

"The players have come in and worked really hard for me and their fitness levels are looking really good.

"Despite playing a few games we have not suffered with injuries, so that has been another good thing and now it is just about focusing on Saturday's match with Mansfield."

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect is that Pool have four strikers vying for two positions. Easter and Anth Lormor were given starting spots in Lancashire and looked bright, but they are aware that Kevin Henderson and Ritchie Humphreys are just as likely to start.

And Turner said: "Jermaine looked good. His electric pace is always bound to get him past his man and he is only going to get better.

"But all of them up there look good and, this goes for the whole team, the exact 11 I put out against Mansfield may not play again for the rest of the season. That's what competition is all about."

Easter began brightly at Morecambe and when he turned full back Lee Colkin on the left the diminutive forward crossed for Lormor whose header went straight into the hands of keeper Craig Mawson.

On 22 minutes Lormor provided a superb through ball for Easter, who overcame the challenge from Paul McGuire and placed his shot past Mawson into the corner of the net.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 when Ian Clark scored his second penalty in two games.

Defensively Pool were also sound. Turner opted to play Graeme Lee, Michael Barron and Chris Westwood at the back and the trio coped easily with forwards Robbie Talbot and Phil Eastwood. There were opportunities for Morecambe but they were wasted, with Ian Arnold and Andy Gouck the major culprits.

However, visiting keeper Anthon Williams was forced into a great save when Talbot's powerful right-foot shot was blocked by the Welshman.

Easter's replacement on 63 minutes, Ritchie Humphreys, set up Lormor with his first touch to score but that was dubiously ruled offside by the linesman.

Pool did not have to wait long for the final goal, though, when three minutes later Lee's long right-foot cross was headed into the path of Tinkler, who netted.

On 81 minutes Morecambe substitute Rigoglioso scored a bizarre goal when his cross flew over everyone inside the area and landed in the net, despite Barron's attempted heroics on the line.

But, for the record, Pool's pre-season has been a successful one and now signs are good for the up-coming campaign.

First will be Mansfield at Victoria Park this Saturday and Turner is determined to see his boys get off to the best possible start.