Pools beat League Two outfit Chesterfield 3-1 in their Johnstone's Paint Trophy First Round clash this evening, with two goals from James Brown and a David Foley strike sealing a passage into the Second Round.
Wilson's men played some good football and looked in control for long spells of the game as they eased past a hard-working Spireites side.
It was a much-shuffled Danny Wilson eleven that took to the field at Saltergate this evening, with five changes being made from Saturday's side that won 4-1 against Oldham Athletic at The Vic.
The strength in depth at Pools this season though meant the faces coming into the squad would have been in the eleven last term and it was a strong side that took to the field.
Despite this, it was the hosts who enjoyed the best of the early chances, with on-loan striker Adam Rooney a constant thorn in Pools' side.
The big bustling forward caused problems for the Pools defence with his turn of pace and direct approach and it was Rooney who found himself with the first real chance on goal inside the opening fifteen minutes.
The Spireites forward burst forward on goal, just getting the edge on Godwin Antwi to move into the area but good pressure from Jan Budtz, who threw himself into the challenge, saw the ball blocked wide for a corner kick.
Pools were then forced to make an early change in personnel - Matty Robson limped off with a groin injury and was replaced on the left wing by David Foley.
Rooney continued to threaten and once again just snuck past Antwi and this time unleashed a powerful effort at goal but fortunately for Pools, Budtz showed good reactions to acrobatically tip around the post. Antwi made amends just seconds later when he cleared the resulting corner from danger.
A good touch from Derek Niven in midfield set Rooney through on goal but this time Michael Nelson showed good reactions to throw an outstretched leg into the challenge and allow Budtz to collect comfortably.
And then Pools had their first shot on goal and it came courtesy of recalled striker Joel Porter. Gary Liddle poked a ball through into the area for the Aussie striker who was twelve yards from goal and one-on-one with the keeper, but he stubbed his finish just past the left hand post.
Wilson's men found themselves in a similar position shortly after and made no mistake this time - great work by Richard Barker mid-way inside the half saw the striker fight his way clear of the attentions of two defenders and then put a good ball through for sub Foley.
The young striker took his chance well, executing a perfectly-weighted shot past Barry Roche and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
The goal signalled the beginning of Pools' dominance on the game and both Porter and Foley came close to doubling the lead. Foley thread a ball through for Porter who ran to the by-line before trying his luck on goal only to see his effort blocked by Roche straight into the path of Foley.
The Pools' forward hit a clean blast right back at goal but once again Roche blocked well and the ball went out for a corner kick and the half came to a close at 1-0.
Shortly after the break and Pools were forced on the back foot as they had to defend another move involving the lively Rooney. The big striker picked up the ball on the edge of the area, pulling Budtz out of his area to challenge but, with the keeper ending up in a heap with the striker, the ball rolled clear to Josh Law.
Law took the ball down before firing at goal and, just as it looked set to land in the back of the empty net, Godwin Antwi came to the rescue to block the shot with an outstretched leg and clear high over the bar.
But, just as the hosts looked to have wind of an equaliser, Pools made it 2-0 with a good effort from James Brown.
A short corner kick from Ritchie Humphreys found the striker on the right edge of the penalty box. He jinked his way into the box, twisting his way right to the by-line before chipping the ball over the goalkeeper and, just as it looked set to land on the roof of the net, it just dipped inside of the far post and into back of net.
Humphreys went close himself when Pools were awarded a free kick around 25 yards out on goal - his fierce low drive beat the defensive wall and the keeper but nipped just wide of the near post.
The third did arrive on the 59th minute when sub Michael Mackay took the ball down the right to the line before pulling it back into the area and across goal where Brown was waiting to touch it home for his second and Pools' third.
Mackay, looking lively after his introduction into the game, went close with his own chance on goal - the striker burst forward into the area, firing a rising shot at goal which was well blocked by Roche in the home goal.
The hosts then came desperately close from dragging a goal back. After winning a free kick 25 yards out on goal, Law stepped up to take it and curled a good effort over the wall which beat Budtz only to crash against the woodwork and rebound back into play.
Just minutes later though and it was 3-1; good work down the left from Law saw the ball poked through the box to Wayne Allison who turned in space before shooting past Budtz and into the back of the net.
A great piece of skill from Adam Rooney nearly made for a slightly tense finish to the game for Pools - with a ball played forward for the big striker, he just poked it past Nelson, tuning the Pools' defender in the process and firing a drive right across Budtz's goal and narrowly wide of the far post.
Pools played the game down to the clock, enjoying some impressive spells of possession - one which saw Chesterfield not get a touch on the ball for at least 30 touches and the win was a much-deserved one here at Saltergate.
After putting four past Oldham Athletic on Saturday, Pools added another three to their week's tally this evening against Chesterfield to put their name in the hat for the Second Round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
And, with Leeds United in League One action waiting for Wilson's men at the weekend, they will be hoping to continue their goal trail at Elland Road.
Pools: Budtz, Gibb, Nelson, Antwi, Humphreys, Brown (McCunnie), Liddle, Clark, Robson (Foley 18), Barker (Mackay 54), Porter
Subs: Lee-Barrett, Turnbull
Chesterfield: Roche, Picken (Law 21), Robertson, Gray, Kovacs, Lowry, Niven, Winter (O'Hare , Jackson, Rooney, Allison
Subs: Jordan, O'Hare, Algar, Williams
