Pools Reserves were beaten 1-0 by their Rotherham United counterparts on a disappointing afternoon in the Central League East at Billingham Town.

Tom Newey drilled home the only goal of the game on twelve minutes when his low free-kick found the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Adam Boyd had earlier drawn a decent save to his right from visiting keeper Tony Thompson and he got the chance to equalise when Lewis Hawkins was felled in the box but the striker hit the post with his penalty.

Micky Barron's men struggled to make headway against a determined young Millers side for the rest of the first period but they looked more likely to find the net in the second period.

Nathan Luscombe drove a long-range effort a little too high, while Boyd turned cleverly in the area but hooked his close-range shot over the cross bar.

A low free kick from Luscombe was blocked by Rotherham only as far as Boyd who prodded the rebound wide of the near post with his left foot.

Much of the second half danger was provided by Pools young full-back Jordan Richards who delivered consistently good balls in to the penalty area as the visitors were pinned back.

A deep cross from Richards found Luscombe at the far post but the midfielder couldn't believe it as his powerful point-blank volley was brilliantly palmed over the bar by Thompson.

Another couple of Richards' crosses found Boyd in space in the area but he looped one effort off the cross bar and another just wide of the front post at the Millers continued to keep Pools at bay.

And keeper Liam Mooney had to make a smart save to tip Newey's long-range drive over the bar as the full-back attempted to double his tally and add gloss to the victory late on.

Full Time: Pools 0 Rotherham United 1

Pools: Mooney, Richards, Johnson, Baldwin, Holden, Adjei, Hawkins (Irwin 46), Rowbotham, Luscombe, Nish, Boyd (Hassan 74).
Subs not used: Buddle, Rutherford, Snaith.

Rotherham United: Thompson, Royles, Newey, McIntosh, Hall (Woods 70), Rose, Beedham, Schofield, Denton, Brown, McKay.
Subs not used: Williams, Walker, Hart.