Sunderland AFC ended their pre-season with a defeat at North-East neighbours Hartlepool United.
2,832 travelling supporters packed the Suit Direct to with the final preparations taking place before the season opener this Sunday.
Hartlepool United grabbed their opener just three minutes as Chris Wreh took advantage of a Niall Huggins slip. The Black Cats were quickly level as Pritchard curled in a 20-yard free-kick in front of the travelling Sunderland supporters.
Anthony Mancini had the home side back ahead finishing off a quick counterattack. The French midfielder made it three moments later with a finish into the bottom corner past Matthew Young.
Sunderland pulled one back after 65 minutes as Bennette got his second of pre-season with a finish into the bottom left corner. Dieseruvwe made it four from the penalty spot and Pools sealed the contest with Joe Grey tapping in from close range with ten minutes to go.
It was the visitors who took an early lead right on the three-minute mark. A slip from Huggins allowed Wreh to pick up possession and strike the ball past Young.
Less than ten minutes later, the Lads were level. Mancini dragged down Gooch just outside the area and the resulting free-kick from Pritchard found the top corner—a picture-perfect finish from around 20 yards out right in front of the travelling supporters.
John Askey’s side again took the lead with 21 minutes on the clock. A quick counterattack saw Umerah control the ball inside the area, and flick it to Mancini who was able to dispatch it into the bottom corner.
In a matter of 30 seconds later, Hartlepool had their third. Chris Rigg was disposed in the middle of the park, and it was once again Mancini who grabbed his second firing home.
Abdoullah Ba had an opportunity straight after the restart to pull one back after cutting onto his right foot, beating the defender but in the end, dragging the shot wide.
The Lads had their second with 25 minutes to go. A through ball from Triantis released Bennette who beat the offside trap and slotted the ball past Jameson.
The hosts added a fourth on 74 minutes through Emmanuel Dieseruvwe from the penalty spot. Gooch brought down Hastie inside the area and the frontman dispatched past Patterson.
An error at the back allowed Joe Grey to tap in for Hartlepool’s fifth with pre-season coming to a close and more minutes in the tank for Tony Mowbray’s side.
Sunderland AFC: Young (Patterson 45), Gooch, Triantis, Batth, Johnson (Burke 74), Taylor (Spellman 62), Huggins, Rigg, Bennette, Ba, Pritchard.