Scott Gardner believes there are lots his Under-21s side can take from their National League Cup campaign, after falling to defeat at Hartlepool United in their final Group C outing.

Having won the competition two seasons ago, a much-younger Whites side exited the tournament at the group stages this time around, though the boss is confident the team will reap the rewards of battling against senior opposition down the line.

“We are really disappointed with the first part of the first half, where we conceded two goals, and then we seemed to get into gear a little bit and start to show what we were about,” he said after the full-time whistle at the Victoria Ground.

“Just after they scored the second goal, we could quite easily crumble and it maybe looked like it could go that way. So, credit to them that they recovered to a certain degree, and probably for the next hour they controlled most of the game.

“But at the senior level, the game is done. They know the game is done and, yeah, we are just disappointed that we haven’t got more to show, particularly for the second half.

“I think the effort is there. I know how hard they work. It is just that intent to want to win. Even tonight, look at the goals we concede. They are just key moments where an older player doesn’t make those kind of actions to defend the box.

“It is stuff that we work on, something that we highlight, which is why this competition is so important because you need to feel it. That is the difference between winning and losing the game.

“It is key little bits and key little areas that, if you are really desperate to win the game or desperate not to lose, makes the difference. It gives them an idea of what they are going to be exposed to going into the men’s game.

“You play for three points. They are going to put the ball into the box. They are going to be physical. How do you deal with that as a young professional? It is a fantastic experience for us to have.”