Only this morning I thought that I probably wasn’t going to go to a game. If I was to go to a game it would be Billingham Town vs Stockton Town tonight but I probably wouldn’t go to that. It was at 13:00 when I was scrolling down my Facebook to find that Hartlepool United Reserves were playing Rotherham United Reserves at Maiden Castle. This game was meant to be played last week at Billingham Town and I was going to go but it was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. With only an hour to kick-off, I wasn’t sure if I could make it but a bus and then a 20 walk down a few country lanes saw me arrive a couple of minutes before kick-off. I have actually watched these two sides play each other before.It was the 31st of March 2015 when these two sides met at Billingham Town. There was actually a few players playing today who played. Jordan Richards played both games for Hartlepool while Rotherham’s Laurence Bilboe, Mason Warren, Tom Rose, Darnelle Bailey-King and Jack Osbourne all played in both games. When these two sides met in March 2015, Jake Fenton was playing for Rotherham. He is now at Easington Colliery!

Match report:

Rotherham United exit Central League Cup with defeat at Hartlepool United

Rotherham United Reserves crashed out of the Central League Cup as a single Devante Rodney goal was enough to give Hartlepool a 1-0 win at Maiden Castle on Tuesday afternoon.

Rodney fired home in the 36th minute and a young Rotherham side failed to create any meaningful chances.

With new Hartlepool manager Dave Jones watching on, it was a confident display from Pools who now have a good chance of progressing to the knockout stage.

Hartlepool named a team with several players who have first team experience including the likes of Jordan Richards and Nicky Deverdics while Rotherham’s most senior player was Darnelle Bailey-King who was playing his first match back from injury.

It was evident from the off that Hartlepool were the stronger side and in only the fourth minute, Richards’ corner fell kindly to Kenton Richardson at the back post but he could only slice wide.

In the eighth minute, Ben Pollock gave possession away in the centre of the park and Mason Warren spotted Ryan Catterick off his line to go for an effort from his own half but it bounced harmlessly wide.

On the 10 minute mark, Jake Orrell burst down the left wing to find Rodney with a pass but Laurence Bilboe saved the former Sheffield Wednesday man’s effort.

What was the best chance of the game so far fell to Rotherham’s Akeel Francis in the 18th minute. A route one ball over the top looked to find the former Huddersfield Town man but his attempted lob failed to find the target.

Seconds later, at the other end, Deverdics rose for a header but Bilboe pulled off a superb save from point-blank range.

In what was Rotherham’s best spell, Warren threaded the ball to Sam Martin and he helped it on to find Francis.

Francis was in on goal at this point but his effort was too high and bounced back off the rugby post.

After Deverdics had headed wide once again, Hartlepool’s breakthrough came in the 36th minute.

Orrell’s determined run saw him cut in from the left and fire a shot which was saved by Bilboe. But, the Rotherham stopper could only palm the ball into the path of Rodney who fired high into the net.

Pools were looking dangerous down both flanks in the opening half with Orrell looking lively down the left and Richards and Richardson linking up well down the right.

Five minutes before half-time, a deep Rotherham corner found Bailey-King but his wasn’t expecting it and could only chest wide.

Hartlepool’s lead could have been doubled when a Richards corner was played short to find Orrell who swung it into the penalty area to find Deverdics but his header bounced back off the crossbar.

In first half additional time, Richards was played in for the hosts after a superb Deverdics flick but his effort was saved.

Hartlepool went into the break with a deserved lead which could and possibly should have been more comfortable.

The second half was very quiet compared to the first but Pools’ second string were still looking very comfortable.

Substitute Connor Smith fired wide five minutes into the second half while Josh Hawkes side-footed wide not too long later.

Twenty minutes from time, Dylan Elliott linked up with Hawkes to carve out a chance for Smith but again, the 20-year-old couldn’t find the target.

As time was running out for Rotherham, some sloppy defending gifted Reece McGinley possession and his good work found Francis but he was denied by a fine save from Catterick.

With the game now in injury time, Richards and Richardson linked up once again to give the latter an opportunity but his effort was saved by Bilboe.

With the final chance, Hartlepool’s Hawkes fired an effort which was saved after Smith’s clever through ball.

The home side were never really in danger and a dissapointing performance from the visitors saw them crash out of the Central League Cup.

Full-time: Hartlepool United Reserves 1-0 Rotherham United Reserves

Next up for me is Sunderland U18s vs Newcastle United U18s tomorrow night.

Hartlepool United Reserves: Catterick, Richards, Martin, Skidmore (Elliott, 56′), Wise, Pollock, Richardson, Deverdics, Rodney (Smith, 46′), Hawkes, Orrell

Unused subs: Dudzinski, Assenso, Turnbull

Rotherham United Reserves: Bilboe, Osborne, Rose, Bailey, Murr, Bailey-King, Warren (Wiles, 43′), Maguire, Kayode, Martin, Francis

Deegan Atherton and Reece McGinley both also came on for Rotherham.

Unused subs: Fidler, Sterling

Admission: Free

Programme: No

Attendance: 42

Teamsheet: Free