Photo by Adam Davy
York City bounced back from midweek defeat to claim victory over Hartlepool United in a windy Prestige Group Stadium.
City had the first chance in this contest. Some neat play down the right from Joe Felix allowed him with space to feed the ball through to Ollie Pearce, who backheeled the ball goalwards, but the shot ran wide of the post.
Luke Charman had Hartlepool’s first chance in the 6th minute. His shot from a tight angle was blocked by Malachi Fagan-Walcott.
Charman again was looking for the ambitious strike but his shot from range was easily held by Harrison Male.
Joe Grey was handed a chance to score against his old club when he latched onto a Greg Olley through ball, his low driven shot was well saved by George Evans.
Charman, for a third time, was looking to test Male in goal. His left-footed shot from inside the box stinging the palms of Male, who did well.
The best chance of the game so far came in the 20th minute. Alex Newby with a shot from a Felix cross, which was well parried away by Evans, but only into the path of Olley, who shot on the rebound, but again City saw their chance saved by the debutant keeper.
A crazy two minute period was to follow. City took the lead in chaotic fashion when a Hartlepool box scramble allowed Newby with room to shoot. His shot was deemed to have crossed the line once it was hooked away leaving City with a goal advantage.
A minute later and City had a great chance to double the lead. Olley’s shot hitting the arm of a Hartlepool man in the box with the referee pointing to the spot. Ollie Pearce was unable to convert as he blazed the ball over the bar.
Gonzalez had a good chance to respond for the hosts. His curling effort from outside the box was well matched by Male in the City goal.
Pearce did have the ball in the net in the 36th minute but this time to be denied by the offside flag.
Grey was denied once again from an acrobatic save from Evans. His header from inside the box forcing the keeper into a diving save.
Alex Hunt had the first chance of the second half. His header from a Hiram Boateng corner went straight at Evans who collected.
Pearce was handed another chance from inside the box when he latched onto an Olley low-ball. His effort ran wide of the right-hand post.
Boateng was next to have a go for City. He brought the ball down in the box before firing at goal but he could only see his effort well blocked by Jay Benn.
Like the first half, there was to be late drama. Two city subs combining to double the lead for York in the 86th minute. Ollie Banks squaring the ball across to Ben Brookes who darted across the box to place the ball in the net.
Hartlepool were not going down without a fight and they themselves grabbed one back just two minutes later when Vadine Oliver latched onto the ball in the City box before drilling the ball past male.
Hartlepool United: Evans, Benn, Parkes, Evans, Francis, Charman, Sheron, Miley, Topalloj, Dacosta, Daly.
Subs: Smith, Ferguson, Johnson, Hunter, Featherstone, Oliver, Walker.
York City: Male, Kitching, Fagan-Walcott, Palmer, Hunt, Pearce, Grey, Boateng, Olley, Felix, Newby.
Subs: Sykes-Kenworthy, Fallowfield, Sinclair, Brookes, Batty, McLaughlin, Banks.
Attendance: 4428 (774 City fans).
