Hartlepool Utd 3 Rotherham Utd 1

EVER since breaking into the Hartlepool side in 2003, David Foley has offered plenty of promise. And last night the striker proved he can turn fulfil that potential.

The Johnstone's Paint Trophy is the least glamorous competition in football. At times last night it was like watching paint dry, but Foley applied some welcome gloss.

The 19-year-old bagged a fine individual goal and gave a performance much bigger in stature than his 5ft 4in frame.

In the record books as the youngest player to wear the blue and white shirt, Foley has long been on the fringe of the first team.

But boss Danny Wilson has never been afraid to pitch him into battle and, with seven reserve goals to his name this season, he finally netted his first senior goal in style.

Foley was one of seven changes made by Wilson after Saturday's draw with Stockport and Jim Provett was given his first start since April 2005. He was busy after two minutes, blocking a shot from Ryan Taylor.

From the corner Martin Woods, the former Sunderland midfielder, cracked a 20-yard drive against a post.

Provett was out to impress and saved well from Delroy Facey as the much-changed Pools side took time to fire. But when they clicked into gear they took the lead.

James Brown danced his way into the area and pulled his cross back for Lee Bullock to sidefoot into the net from ten yards.

Brown, recovered from a knee injury, was having some joy on the right side of a three-man attack, as Wilson reverted to the formation which started the season.

But the Millers were level on 28 minutes. A free-kick whipped in from the left corner was met by a combination of Facey and Bullock and the ball bounced high up off the turf and into the net.

The prospect of a penalty shoot-out - provided the scores were level - at the end of 90 minutes at least offered a glimmer of excitement in a listless encounter.

But Foley bagged a goal that was worthy of a bigger stage than this to put Pools back in front.

The little Geordie was buoyed by his first career goal and he set up Jon Daly to head over from six yards.

Provett was taking command of his penalty area when needed and made the most of his chance, certainly giving Wilson something to think about ahead of Friday's trip to Chester.

Just 80 seconds into the second half Woods, a one-time Pools loanee, jumped into Gavin Strachan with his elbow. The clash drew blood from Strachan's mouth and further red followed with the instant card from referee Eddie Ilderton.

With the Millers a man down in a game of little initial consequence, it gave Pools the opportunity to take advantage - and they did.

Foley was the stand-out player throughout, with his pace causing problems for the visitors whenever he burst at them.

He started a move on the left which saw Ritchie Humphreys switch play to Phil Turnbull. The right back produced a peach of a curling cross right on Daly's head, but the striker nodded at keeper Neil Cutler from eight yards when he should have netted his eighth of the season.

But Humphreys was soon celebrating his first as Foley set him up to roll the ball low into the corner of the net from 16 yards.

Pools were somehow not given a late penalty after Colin Murdoch handled Michael Maiden's effort.

It was one of four decisions by referee Ilderton and his assistant Paul Simpson that can only be described as utterly bonkers. But there was no doubt about Ian Sharp's stupid handball which brought a second red of the night.

But it was already game over and Pools go into today's draw for the second round.

* Preston completed an impressive fightback after going two goals down at Ipswich to extend their long unbeaten run and move second in the Coca-Cola Championship table.

Simon Whaley's long-range shot secured an unlikely win for Paul Simpson's side, who have not lost in their last ten league matches.

The visitors turned the game on its head with three goals in a 20-minute spell after the break to win 3-2.