HARTLEPOOL United's assistant manager Colin West was left frustrated after his reserves side handed Macclesfield Town the Avon Insurance League championship yesterday.

Macclesfield's second-string knew three points would clinch the title at Moss Rose and West admits that he was frustrated at the level of performance achieved by his players.

"There was a big crowd considering it was a reserve game and they cheered them on to the championship," he said. "I am very disappointed with our display though; they were the better team, it was as simple as that.

"We shot ourselves in the foot at 2-1 when we let them get the third. We had just got back into the game and then we gave the ball away from a throw-in and conceded the killer goal."

Pool fell behind in the tenth minute when defender Gordon Simms put the ball beyond his own keeper, Martin Hollund, to hand the Silkmen the lead.

Michael Welch made it two shortly before half-time when his free-kick found its way into Hollund's net.

Pool striker Jermaine Easter then brought Pool back into the game with an unstoppable drive into the top corner of the net from the edge of the area.

But Macclesfield ensured victory and the title when Matt Wooley volleyed superbly beyond Hollund to make it three.

Hartlepool Reserves: Hollund, Bass, Sharp, Simms, Robson, Arnison, Stephenson, Sweeney, Boyd, Easter, Henderson. Subs: Provett, Brackstone, Craddock, McKenzie, Windross.

l Darlington's reserves finished-off their season in miserable fashion yesterday as they were thumped 5-0 and had Paul Campbell sent-off for two bookable offences at Walsall.

After playing 30 minutes for the second-string last week, Simon Betts was given his first start since February 2 when he suffered a gashed leg at Carlisle, while Neil Maddison and Mark Sheeran also played.

The hosts scored all five goals before the break as they celebrated their Avon Insurance League Division One title in style.

Darlington: Andrew Grainger, Steven Harper, Simon Betts, Neil Maddison, Martin Smith, Philip Brumwell, Mark Convery, Paul Campbell, Mark Sheeran, Clark Keltie, Adam Rundle. Subs: Keith Finch, Michael Bond, Steven Morley, Chris Hughes, John Ellenden.

Darlington will travel to Hampton and Richmond in Middlesex for a weekend football tournament in July

Read more about Hartlepool FC here.