Pools lost out in their first game of the League One season against Luton Town as goals in either half sealed the win for Kevin Blackwell's side. A Richard Barker penalty came too late to make any real difference in the game.

But the result hid a strong performance by Pools and Danny Wilson will take a number of positives out of what was a promising display against one of the League's strongest sides.

It was a Pools side clearly itching to get the new campaign underway who took to the field at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Danny Wilson handed debuts to five of his new signings but there were no signs of unfamiliarity as the chosen eleven put in a strong attacking performance with plenty of flowing football on show.

And Pools tested the home defence early on as Robbie Elliott played a powerful ball into the area for James Brown who skipped over the keeper to play it in for Ian Moore but the striker saw his chance deflected wide for a corner kick.

With Willie Boland totally dominating proceedings in midfield and Ian Moore looking lively up front, Pools stamped their mark on the game from the off - giving the hosts a good work out in the opening exchanges.

And the pair were both involved in Pools' first main chance on goal; with just ten minutes on the clock Boland latched onto a ball out of defence and played it neatly back into Richard Barker on the edge of the area. He poked a good ball through the defence for Moore who fired goalwards from a tight angle but with James Brown running into finish - the ball was cleared from danger.

Brown was a constant threat down the right this afternoon and, looking refreshed after the well-earned break, he combined with Boland to put real pressure on the out-rushing Dean Brill, forcing him out to the edge of the area but the ball bounced fortunately for the Luton keeper and he was able to deflect the ball from Brown's path.

Boland proved creator again later in the half when he pushed forward to the touchline before lifting the ball into the centre of the area where Chris Coyne intervened to snatch possession from Moore.

It took the hosts until the twentieth minute mark to really test the Pools defence - Richard Jackson whipped a powerful ball in from the right and Michael Nelson had to be alert to get up for the clearing header and, minutes later Godwin Antwi was called into action to also head clear.

Although Kevin Blackwell's men upped their pressure on Pools, it was Wilson's men who always looked the more like scoring - and Ian Moore went desperately close to doing just that with a glancing header.

And so the opening goal came as quite a surprise; Darren Currie picked up possession on the right of the area, took the ball to the edge of the box before curling a low shot at goal which just evaded the out-stretched arms of Lee-Barrett and nestled into the bottom left corner.

Despite strong calls from Pools for a free-kick in the build-up to the opener after what seemed a foul on Boland, they took the goal in their stride and immediately set out in search of an equaliser.

A ball from the left found Ritchie Humphreys in space in the box but his curled shot went just over the bar - his choice of precision over power seeing him miss out. Minutes later and the left winger was given another opportunity to fire home but this time his stinging shot went just wide of target.

The second half continued in much the same manner for Pools as they continued to dominate possession with waves of attacking play - Humphreys found himself in good space inside the area and drove a powerful ball right across the face of goal. Moore also tried to get a finishing touch on the effort which edged narrowly wide of the far post.

Brown was the next to test Brill's goal as he whipped a ball in from the right but the keeper blocked well under pressure from a determined Gary Liddle.

At the other end of the field Robbie Elliott conceded a free kick right on the edge of the area which Currie took and squared left for Alan Goodall who smashed a low drive through the defence and straight into the arms of Lee-Barrett.

The game slowed a little as the half progressed but Pools still looked dangerous with every attack - the introduction of Joel Porter on the left giving more options up front.

A Robbie Elliott free kick into the area caused confusion for the home defence as five Pools' players nudged the ball forward but Brill recovered to pluck Barker's header from the air.

And then the hosts doubled their lead - again in controversial circumstances, With just six minutes remaining on the clock, Luton were awarded a free kick on the left. The ball was curled into the area right to the far post where Goodall bundled the ball towards goal which seemed to be cleared off the line by Jamie McCunnie. But the assistant referee had other ideas and signalled that the ball had crossed the line and the goal was given.

As the three minutes of additional time were announced, sub Antony Sweeney was hauled to the ground inside the box and Richard Barker stepped up to take the resulting spot kick. He smashed the ball central and right past Brill to give Pools a late consolation.

While Danny Wilson's men will be ruing some early missed chances, they will take positives from their opening game of the new season as they played some good flowing football and looked strong in all positions.

Next up is a mid-week trip to Scunthorpe United in the Carling Cup and Pools will now make qualifying for Round Two their main focus.

Att: 8013 (608 Pools)

Pools: Lee-Barrett, McCunnie, Nelson, Antwi, Elliott, Brown, Boland (Sweeney 77), Liddle, Humphreys (Porter 58), Barker, Moore

Subs: Budtz, Clark, Gibb

Luton Town: Brill, Goodall, Perry, Coyne, Currie (Hutchinson 89), Peschisolido (McVeigh 77), Jackson, Robinson, Edwards, Spring, Furlong (Parkin 67)

Subs: Talbot, Keane