York City U19s enjoyed a winning afternoon at Hartlepool’s Prestige Group Stadium, coming away with a 3-0 victory in their penultimate away game of the season.
Oz Shaw came in for Adam Tweed, which was the only change to the starting eleven.
York started on the front foot and had penalty appeals waved away in the opening minute when Sutton Greening was brought down.
Shortly after, a corner found the head of Ethan Stiver, but he was unable to keep his effort down.
Another attempt came in the form of a low shot that was easy enough for the goalkeeper to stop.
After prolonged City pressure, Lewis Beadle struck home the opener from a free-kick in the 15th minute. A foul on Lucas Russell just outside the penalty area gave the left-back a shooting opportunity, and he dispatched low and precisely into the bottom corner.
Before the half-hour mark, Ollie Belleh sent a volley bouncing into the ‘keeper’s arms, while Josh Binns and Russell combined to force a sharp double save.
Hartlepool soon had their first real attempt, a curling strike which was a simple claim for Cam White between the sticks.
Shaw had his chance to go for goal when a lay-off came to him on the edge of the box, but his shot was well defended by Pools, who deflected it behind for a corner.
In the 44th minute, the Minstermen defender played a pinpoint pass over the top for Tom Hewson to latch onto, but the latter placed the ball narrowly wide of the post.
There were more half-chances for either side in stoppage time, but at the break, Beadle’s goal was the difference.
Ten minutes into the second half, the hosts looked to cause real problems for York, with a scramble in the area, before an eventual overhead kick went wide.
Hartlepool thought they had themselves on level terms in the 66th minute, but celebrations were cut short by the referee, who signalled for a handball.
Substitute Ed Campbell-Baldwin had an excellent opportunity for City, as he burst through and rounded the goalkeeper, before rolling a shot towards goal, which was cleared off the line.
But on the ninety-minute mark, he made no mistake, running through and pulling away from his marker, then sliding the ball past the ‘keeper to practically ensure the win.
Just to put the icing on the cake, Jake Roberts also made an impact off the bench, arriving at the back post to smash home Ollie Belleh’s cross via the bar in the 95th minute.
Hartlepool United: Conyard, Duthie, Basiru, Wood (C), Gilbraith, Grundle, Aungiers, Penprase, Rukin, Thornton, Jolaoso.
Subs: Worth, Daines, Flint, Taylor, Raitt.
York City: White, Shaw, Beadle, Belleh (C), Hall, Stiver (Baker 86′), Kydd, Russell, Hewson (Campbell-Baldwin 64′), Greening (Roberts 58′), Binns.
