Pools Youth Team suffered their own cup agony on Saturday after being knocked out of the Youth Alliance Cup on penalties at the hands of Macclesfield Town.

The Second Round tie at Chester-le-Street was a closely fought affair, though Pools started the brightest and caused their visitors some problems with well-taken set-pieces.

Micky Barron's youngsters made the breakthrough when Daniel Johnson found some space on the halfway line to feed Lee Mason, who turned his defender before producing a wonderful finish across the keeper and in to the net from the edge of the box.

Pools took their slender lead in to half time and in a cagey second half they looked to hang on to the initiative with chances few and far between for either side.

However, having lost possession in midfield Pools were made to pay and the ball was slotted through the defence and Macclesfield's front man finished neatly.

With no extra time scheduled, the tie went straight to penalties and Pools made a disastrous start - missing all of their first three spot-kicks.

Macclesfield converted all three of theirs to record the victory and book their place in Round Three of the competition at Pools' expense.

"It's very disappointing to be knocked out this early," Barron admitted afterwards.

"We had enough good opportunities to have scored more goals but our decision-making in the final third let us down at times.

"Macclesfield didn't create too much in front of goal but they made us pay for not taking our chances so good luck to them in the next round."

Full Time: Pools 1 Macclesfield Town 1 (Macclesfield win 3-0 on penalties)

Pools: Herbert, Purvis, Dukes (Mellish), Richards, Marron, Sharples, Blackford, Liddle, Wakefield, Mason, D Johnson (Snaith).
Subs not used: Marshall, Strafford, Mooney.