Eric Kinder spoke to us about the Reserve victory over Hartlepool on Wednesday afternoon:

"Hartlepool put out a very young team, but I was very pleased with our performance.

The enthusiasm and the way we completely controlled the game was good to see. Overall it was a very successful start to the competition.

Hartlepool put out a team that were half youth, and a few players who were just a little bit older. 

With a side like that you have to kill off their enthusiasm first, as we were fielding a more senior side. Having said that, Matt Duffy played 90 minutes, Jonny Blake played 90 minutes and Connor Tinnion played around 35 minutes. We also had Gary Madine in the side.

Our first goal came from a good move involving Michael Bridges, and he sent it out to Gary Madine. Gary struck it with his left foot, but the keeper got to it, and Luke Joyce followed up to tap it in. As ever, he was in the right place at the right time, and his goal scoring record for the Reserves over the last season has been better than a forward, to be fair. He does like to score goals.

 Our next came just before half time. A decent cross by Jonny Blake went pin point to Michael Bridges, and he took it down on his chest, then struck a wonderful volley. It really was a class finish.

At half time I told them to keep it going and to keep doing it right, which they did. The third one came from another long ball, and it caught their centre half napping. Gary Madine nipped round the back and curled it over the goalkeeper with what was another very good finish.

We finished it off with a counter-attack that released Grant Smith, and he carried the ball some distance before placing it under the keeper.

They scored on 92 minutes, and I think there was only a minute of added time left. It didn't spoil anything though. 

There was a bit of slack marking, but that's just me being fussy I suppose.

Overall I was absolutely delighted with the performance and the attitude from the side.

They did themselves no harm at all.

On another day the front lads could say that they would have had a hat-trick apiece, but that would just be us being greedy. 

Ronnie Wallwork played for us, and he obviously needs a few more games, but you can tell he's a quality player that has played at a high level. He had some great touches and he just needs a few more games to get him up to speed."

Team: Howarth, Blake, Gowling, Keogh, Duffy, Joyce (Tinnion 55), Wallwork, G Smith, J Smith, Madine, Bridges. Unused subs: Aldred, Cook, Lakeland, Mitchell.