Pools lost out 1-0 in the first game of their Dutch tour against Almere City in Heiloo this evening.

A first-half goal from the Dutch outfit's leading scorer last term Karim Fachtali was enough to hand them victory on a very warm evening.

Pools had actually created the first chance of note in the game when Steve Haslam's cross was met by Denis Behan but the keeper was right behind the effort.

The only goal arrived when Fachtali picked up the ball on the left side of the box and curled a wonderful strike across goal and into the top corner.

Michael Mackay almost responded instantly but the keeper ran out to collect the ball as the Pools striker had tried to head home.

Half-time substitute Scott Flinders was quickly into the action and had to smother at the feet of an on-rushing attacker within minutes of the re-start.

And the Pools keeper had to be at his best again moments later when Marvin Hasselbaink, nephew of former Chelsea and Middlesbrough striker Jimmy Floyd, volleyed on goal.

Hasselbaink again proved dangerous seconds later and this time Flinders was beaten but thankfully the ball went wide of the right hand post.

Colin Larkin had Pools' best chance of the second half when the ball fell to him loose in the penalty area but his shot was blocked and Pools ended on the wrong side of defeat.

Full Time: Almere City 1 Pools 0

Pools (First Half): Rafferty, Haslam, Horwood, Murray, Liddle, Johnson, McSweeney, Behan, Mackay, Bjornsson, Greulich

Pools (Second Half): Flinders, Collins, Hartley, Austin, Horwood, Sweeney, Gamble, Yantorno, Larkin (Murray 85), Monkhouse, Boyd