Pools Reserves ran out 1-0 winners over Gateshead thanks to Adam Boyd's second half goal at the International Stadium.

The striker was in the right place at the right time to fire home the only goal of the game as a youthful Pools line-up enjoyed a victory that was comfortable for the most part and could have been more handsome.

The hosts started the game the brighter and attempted to get on the front foot when Martin Brittain drove forward but saw his shot rise high and wide from long range.

Lewis Hawkins had the first real opening of the game following a neat touch by Colin Nish but he couldn't generate the power in his shot to trouble hosts keeper Ben Wilson.

Jack Baldwin saw his back post header cleared off the line from a deep Nathan Luscombe corner, while he also headed over from eight yards on the end of another Luscombe delivery from the right.

Nish came close when he sent a powerful curling effort with the outside of his right boot just wide of the far post from the right corner of the penalty area, while Luscombe might have done better with a shot from twelve yards which scraped past the post.

James Brown was being used on the right side of midfield and managed to jink in to space on the edge of the box and drill and effort on goal but Wilson was in the right place to hold the effort down to his right.

Baldwin was causing problems for the Gateshead rearguard and saw a close-range volley brilliantly parried by Wilson and Callum Hassan was thwarted by the offside flag as he attempted to profit from the rebound.

Pools started the second half in positive fashion and went in front when Jordan Richards deep cross from the right found Hassan who took a touch and fired on goal only to see his shot blocked on the line - thankfully for Pools, Boyd was on hand to knock home the rebound from close range.

Baldwin and Rowbotham had to show their bravery to block out Gateshead at the other end, the young duo throwing themselves in the way of two shots as it looked as though the hosts would level.

Boyd came close to doubling the lead when he was teed up by substitute Darren Holden twenty-five yards out but his low drive was well turned round the post by Wilson.

At the death Pools nearly stole a second through Greg Rutherford but he couldn't quite turn the ball home at the far post after a great break and intelligent early ball across from Luscombe.

The win and clean sheet will no doubt please Micky Barron, as will the fact that Colin Nish managed to get ninety minutes under his belt on his return from knee surgery.

Full Time: Gateshead 0 Pools 1

Pools: Rafferty, Richards, Baldwin, Rowbotham, Jamie Poole, Brown (Dodds 82), Luscombe, Hawkins (Rutherford 75), Boyd, Nish, Hassan (Holden 64).
Subs not used: Mooney, Snaith.