Hartlepool youngsters were thrashed 10-0 by Middlesbrough U21s in the first game of the 2026/27 National League Cup.
The game kicked off at 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon with Hartlepool first team manager Lee Clark not in charge for the game, instead it was lead by academy boss Alex Cross.
Frankie Coulson put Boro ahead after just 5 minutes, with Layton Campbell making it 2-0 three minutes later, and Ezra Tika-Lemba added a third just before half time.
The second half saw Boro continue to dominate, Coulson making it 4-0 on 50 minutes, Campbell 5-0 on 52 minutes, Daniel James making it six on the 54th minute, Lucca Kakai, who had only been on the pitch for a minute, to add Boro’s seventh with 30 minutes remaining, 8-0 thanks to Lucas Harrison on 65 minutes, Coulson completing his hat-trick, Hartlepool’s ninth with 20 minutes left and then added a fourth, Pools’ tenth on 90 minutes.
I think this is a sign to bin🗑️ off the National league cup i don’t think any of the senior clubs care just look at this 2 goals from boro in about 3 minutes pic.twitter.com/SY1uc5KiAa
— BEDFORD ON TOUR (@BedfordOnTour) August 11, 2026
1 | Pools make 4 early changes:
⏪️Hunter, Ilunga, Harris, Popov
⏩️Thornton, Foreman, Worth, Smith— Hartlepool United FC (@Official_HUFC) August 11, 2026
To comply with competition rules, four players who started in Hartlepool’s league opener against Barrow were named in the National League Cup fixture, before being subbed off one minute in, as soon as the ball went out of play.
Lee Clark recently explained Hartlepool’s decision to compete in 2026/27 National League Cup with 12 clubs declining the invite.
The National League Cup will return for the new campaign, despite low attendances, boycotts and backlash.
The competition between National League clubs and Premier League 2 sides was introduced, the controversial competition launched much to everyone’s surprise, featuring 32 teams (16 National League, 16 Premier League 2 U21).
Social media users reacted with Hartlepool youngsters thrashed 10-0 by Middlesbrough U21s in National League Cup…
@CRMW__: Unlucky to lose that. Played well, just 10 lapses in concentration.
@adambrown005: Whoever’s idea it was to play a national league academy vs top level academy’s should be sacked first thing
@Davidjrj123: Pointless. Thrown a bunch of 16/17/18 year old kids under the bus and humiliated them to make a point in a competition nobody wanted to be in anyway. Opened them up to criticism and being laughed at by a paying crowd and online. I can’t see a positive impact that will have had.
@JW_HUFC: Close game lads, could’ve went either way
@1908pools: Great way to get the under 21 lads together and build confidence 🙄
@Ryannx97: Was always against competing in this competition and now we’ve embarrassed ourselves and probably ruined all confidence in our academy squad. Avoid the competition next year. It’s pointless!
@PhilOwen702: unfortunately @Official_HUFC have thrown their youngsters under the bus in a pointless competition that will have lasting damage. Remember we gave FA cup replays for this shitshow of a competition. Feel sorry for the youngsters in this instance. Why bother entering.
