Hartlepool skipper back from injury with a goal against Rotherham

The club captain, making his first appearance since recovering from an Achilles problem, scored in the 18th minute at Bedford Terrace.

Paynter played an hour before coming off as planned.

So too did Matthew Bates who returned to action following a toe injury.

Rakish Bingham also played an hour and made it two goals in two games after scoring a stunner in last night’s 3-1 defeat at Accrington.

Bingham put Pools on the way to victory against the Millers with a neat finish in the 15th minute after a great ball by Connor Smith.

Paynter made it two inside three minutes after good work by Smith and Josh Nearney.

And the Scouser was inches away from a third two minutes later only for his shot to just miss the keeper’s right stick.

Brad Walker and trialist Jamie McDonagh had ‘goals’ disallowed before the break

But Pools added two in the second period, both from Smith.

His first, in the 48th minute, was a lob from the edge of the area, and his second, in the 67th minute, was a rasping right-foot shot after a fine crossfield ball from McDonagh.

Smith was denied a hat-trick by keeper Laurence Bilboe, who beat out his shot after Nearney had driven forward.