Image by Tom Poole
York City won 5-3 against Hartlepool United in the Vanarama National League at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
First half goals from Ollie Pearce and Alex Hunt were backed up by Ashley Nathaniel-George and Dipo Akinyemi in the second, with Pearce topping off the afternoon with a penalty.
Adam Hinshelwood made three changes to the side which started against Wycombe Wanderers in the Emirates FA Cup.
David Ajiboye made his first start since joining in the week, with Dan Batty and Cameron John also back amongst the starting XI.
Ricky Aguiar picked up on several long balls, breaking the lines to gather the ball.
We saw the first example in the 6th minute when he beat the offside, however a loose touch only allowed the midfielder to prod goal wards without any real conviction.
Ajiboye showed flashes of his turn of pace shortly after, using it to come inwards from the right flank and roll wide.
Ollie Pearce curled home the opener with ease after he latched onto a long ball over the top, controlling perfectly before shifting to his right, opening up and guiding it into the far side of the net.
City had Harrison Male to thank in the first half for denying Adam Campbell’s point blank range header being guided into the net.
Alex Hunt replicated his Barnet set-piece success just before half time, dropping a perfectly hit free kick just past Brad Young in goal.
A third could’ve so easily been added by Ty Sinclair in the first half, however the fingertips of Young saw his curling effort tipped wide of the post.
Immediate second half pressure from Lennie Lawrence’s side saw back to back corners concluding with David Ferguson netting a 50th minute goal.
After City cleared, the ball was recycled by Hartlepool with Luke Charman crossing and allowing the former Minsterman to sweep home.
York soaked up further pressure throughout the minutes after. A scramble in the area, which involved Male initially punching clear, concluded in Ajiboye using his pace as the outlet to drive City up the field and win a free kick.
Dan Batty’s delivery was hung up high for Callum Howe to attack at, however the central defender steered it wide in the end.
Substitute Ashley Nathaniel-George waited no time at all to introduce himself following his 65th minute introduction.
After picking up the ball in the 67th minute from deep, he drove forward slightly before opening up and walloping past Young.
Hartlepool substitutes Roshaun Mathurin and Greg Sloggett tried to make an impact for their side too, seeing shots blocked away inside City’s area in the 82nd minute.
Dipo Akinyemi picked up the ball three minutes later, shifting it onto his left foot to shoot. A deflection in the end sent it wide for a corner.
The forward then ended up converting what he won, heading downwards on the ball which bounced up and into the net from yards out,
Luke Charman added a consolation goal minutes after as a deflection looped upwards and past Male in goal.
Joe Felix could’ve made it two in as many games for the flying wing back, who hit hard and over in front of goal at a tight angle after Akinyemi laid him off.
Further impact from the substitutions proved valuable for Hinshelwood and his side as Luca Thomas won a late penalty after Sloggett bundled the young forward over.
Pearce stepped up to bag his brace and put five on City’s scoreline.
Hartlepool did respond once more after the penalty. Mani Dieseruvwe was clinical from inside the area to strike one in off the post.
YORK CITY: Male. Howe (C), Sinclair, Hunt, Pearce, Batty, Aguiar, John, Felix, Fagan-Walcott (46′ Crookes), Ajiboye.
UNUSED SUBS: Watson, Fallowfield, McLaughlin, Akinyemi, Nathaniel-George, Thomas.
HARTLEPOOL: Young, Dodds, Ferguson, Parkes (C), Campbell, Charman, Gray, Sheron, Featherstone, Sass-Davies, Dieseruvwe.
UNUSED SUBS: Mancini, Sloggett, Mathurin, Stephenson, Onariase, Steel, Smith.
DUTCH BARN ORCHARD VODKA MAN OF THE MATCH, CHOSEN BY XL ASSOCIATES: Alex Hunt.
ATTENDANCE: 7,654 (1,447 Hartlepool United supporters)
