Pools Youth Team suffered derby agony on Saturday as they were defeated by a late penalty against Darlington at Chester-le-Street.

It was a scrappy game played out on a bobbly pitch, which didn't help either side get the ball down and pass it so as a result it became a scrappy affair.

The visitors had the better of the first half but wasted their best opportunity when the referee awarded a penalty but they couldn't convert.

Pools hit back in the second half and created two or three decent openings but could not find the clinical touch to put themselves ahead.

And with less than ten minutes remaining disaster struck when the referee pointed for a second Darlington spot-kick and this time they made no mistake from twelve yards.

"It was disappointing to lose a derby game in those circumstances," admitted Micky Barron.

"It wasn't a classic game but it was typical of a local derby and it was a very scrappy and both sides were a bit short on real quality on the day.

"I thought the first penalty they got was pretty clear-cut whereas the second award was dubious to say the least.

"In fact Craig Liddle (Director of Youth at Darlington) has text me over the weekend to say that he's watched the DVD and it wasn't a penalty - I've asked if that means we can have a point but he's not replied!" Barron joked.

Full Time: Pools 0 Darlington 1

Pools: Thomas, Quantrill, Purvis, Sharples, Marron, Martin (Mason 65), Ellison, Liddle, Blackford, Scaife, McRoberts (Wakefield 75).
Subs not used: Herbert, Johnson, Charlton.