Pools lost out 3-1 to Nottingham Forest in this afternoon's Pontins Holidays League Semi Final at Billingham Town.

Ian Butterworth's men started this Pontins League Semi-Final strongly and looked bright in possession.

With Joe Tait and Ben Clark looking strong at the back, Forest struggled to get any meaningful possession in the opening exchanges.

However, for all of Pools dominance, they failed to really threaten in the final third and really missed their chance to punish the visitors.

Forest, who had only been beaten once so far this term, found their feet mid-way through the opening forty-five and began to test Jan Bidtz goal - an effort from the lively Alan Power which was blocked by the keeper and an effort from Matt Thornhill showed their intention.

And, with 32 minutes on the clock, a free kick in the right channel was whipped in by Felix Bastians and Thornhill found himself unmarked at the far post where he simply slotted home to make it 1-0.

The visitors started the second half in similar fashion to how the first ended, with chances for both Thornhill and Bastians testing Butdz.

Pools' first real chance of the second period came when sub Michael Mackay pushed on into the box, taking advantage of some hesitancy in the visiting defence.

The tricky striker put the ball out to Stephen Turnbull arriving at the right hand post but his shot from an angle went high over the bar.

With 70 minutes on the clock, it was 2-0 to the visitors Thornhill put a ball across the face of goal for Mark Byrne who executed a powerful header past Budtz and into the top right corner of the net.

There was a glimpse of hope ten minutes later when Jamie McCunnie headed a ball on to Matty Tymon, who flicked it inside for Ben Clark who was running into the box and the big defender coolly slotted home to make it 2-1.

But Forest were not to be beaten and, with just two minutes left on the clock, Bastians wrapped up the scoring when he got on the end of a good break away to poke home the visitor's third of the afternoon.

Pools 1 Forest 3

Pools: Budtz, McCunnie, Haigh, Clark, Tait, Turnbull, Foley (Mackay 46), Young, Tymon, Rae, Robson

Subs Not Used: Allison, Ellison, McRoberts, Ruddy

Forest: Roberts, Tait (Reid 90), Moloney, Power, Mitchell, Sharpe, McCleary (Fairclough 59), Thornhill, Sinclair (Newbold 90), Byrne, Bastians

Subs Not Used: Redmond, Kavanagh