The Pools reserves gaffer saw his Division One East champions out-classed against a quality Nottingham Forest side who controlled the last four clash at Billingham's Bedford Terrace ground.

Forest fully deserved their 3-1 victory and it was easy to see why they had only lost one game all season.

Butterworth had no complaints about the result, but still hailed the efforts of the second string throughout their impressive title winning campaign.

He said: "We managed to win the league but we came up against a good young Notts Forest side.

"It's been a long season and we can't forget the efforts they have put in.

"They were a bit sharper and they have got some talented youngsters.

"With being a big city club, they obviously have a big catchment area and they have got some good young kids.

"That's what you get when you are at Notts Forest as a youngster. They will percentage-wise attract better youngsters than we can because the attraction is obvious to see."

Pools featured a number of first-teamers, including Ben Clark, David Foley, Jan Budtz, Matty Robson, Michael Mackay and Jamie McCunnie, who partnered Stephen Turnbull in midfield.

The midfield proved to be the key area with Forest duo Mark Byrne and the hugely impressive Alan Power dominating proceedings.

They weren't the only danger players for Forest. Striker Emile Sinclair possessed a breathtaking turn of pace while right-winger Garath
McCleary kept the Pools left side occupied for all of his hour on the pitch.

Pools struggled to create things going forward, largely because full-backs Martin Young and Tom Haigh were pegged back and couldn't get forward often enough to help Foley and Robson.

Despite Forest's domination, Pools still managed to get the first effort in on goal in the 11th minute.

Michael Rae, fresh from a loan spell at Stockport, came out strongest in a 50/50 with two Forest players, turned on the left-hand side of the box and powered a shot at goal which was tipped over the top.

Clark should have scored from the resulting corner when he was left with time to pick his spot from six yards out. But he tried to place it rather than blasting it and Forest recovered to block.

Midfielder Matt Thornhill went close three times before he finally gave Forest the lead in the 37th minute.

Felix Bastians launched an inswinging free-kick from the right and Thornhill got ahead of Young to prod past Jan Budtz.

He should have doubled his tally five minutes later after Sinclair ghosted past Clark and pulled the ball back to the edge of the area.

The ball bobbled around though and Thornhill couldn't get a clean connection.

Thornhill turned provider with 20 minutes to go as he found space on the right-hand side of the area and lofted a ball to the far post.

Byrne lost the attentions of Young and arrived at pace from deep to head past Budtz.

That looked to be it as a contest, but Pools pulled one back with 10 minutes to go.

McCunnie saw his shot from 25-yards blocked but the ball fell to Matty Tymon who flicked it through to Clark – in unfamiliar territory six yards out.

He took his time to fire past Forest keeper Dale Roberts.

Pools never seriously threatened for an equaliser and Forest sealed the victory in the 89th minute.

Sinclair picked up the ball on halfway and turned on the gas to fly past McCunnie and the up to then very impressive Joe Tait.

He centred the ball for two waiting Forest players and Bastians picked his spot.