HARTLEPOOL United's opening pre-season game was cut short last night as the referee called a halt to proceedings with seven minutes to go.

Pool had dragged themselves back after falling two behind to the Dutch hosts, but offical Hugo Jaspers Uden blew for time and stormed off after an indifferent display.

His final decision, following a night of indecision from the whistle blower, was greeted with a slow hand-clap from the Pool players, bench and the crowd of around 400.

On trial Chris Lumsdon clipped the heels of an opponent and that was enough for Mr Uden, who was derided all night by the frustrated crowd. He later claimed the players weren't respecting each other.

"The referee threw his toys out of the pram,'' smiled Pool boss Neale Cooper, who couldn't help but see the funny side of things. "We have all laughed about it and I've never seen anything like it.

"There were a few tackles going in and the odd strong challenge, but nothing to make him do that. At times during the game, some of the decisions from the referee and his assistants were a joke.''

But it was a decision from Mr Uden on 63 minutes which gave Pool a lifeline. Substitute Steven Istead was felled in the box, but he played on and, when the same thing happened minutes later, there was no way he could repeat his leniency.

Gavin Strachan stepped up and his low penalty was kept out, but he fired in the rebound from close range. Seven minutes later, Istead rifled in a shot from the edge of the box, which crashed in off the crossbar.

The arrival of Istead and Matty Robson, after Pool went two goals down, galvanised the team and they were well on top when the game was halted.

Eifion Williams, who bagged a hat-trick in last year's 6-0 demolition of Top Oss, had three good first-half chances and Mark Tinkler another, but it was goalless at the break.

Then, on 59 minutes, Micky Nelson tripped Orlando Smeekes and Marcele vd Sloot shot low past Provett from 25 yards.

Smeekes was a thorn in Pool's side and he waltzed through the defence to put his team two goals in front.

"It was a good workout and it was a lot harder game than last year - they are a much improved team,'' said Cooper.

"We came back to 2-2 and we were on top then, but it's not about results, but getting fitness levels up.''

Pool: Provett, Craddock, Nelson, Westwood, Robertson, Lumsdon, Tinkler (Strachan 46), Sweeney (Clarke 46), Humphreys (Robson 65), Williams (Porter 46), Boyd (Istead 65).

Result: Top Oss 2 Hartlepool United 2.

Read more about Hartlepool here.