HARTLEPOOL UNITED continued their perfect start to the season with a hard-fought win at York City.

Trailing one-nil, Pools scored two second-half goals to turn the score around, with Michael Woods getting the winner and Billy Paynter curling home a sublime effort to level the score.

After losing Harry Worley to a first half injury, the centre half felled by a reckless Reece Thompson lunge after only four minutes, Pools were up against a long-ball barrage from the hard-working Minstermen.

Pools led something of a charmed life as they held out, with keeper Adam Bartlett making a number of fine saves.The Northern Echo:

The opening goal came when Thompson bundled in from close range in a packed penalty area.

Pools could have levelled instantly when Scott Fenwick fired at York keeper Scott Flinders.

But the former Pools keeper was beaten in style. Paynter curled in a sublime effort into Flinders’ top corner from 18 yards to send the 1,864 away fans wild.

And then Woods turned in from close range, via a big James Berrett deflection, after being teed up by Rakish Bingham.

 

YORK CITY (3-5-2): Flinders; Lowe, Winfield, Zubar; McCoy, Berrett, Penn, Summerfield, Tutonda; Thompson (Hyde 74), Oliver. Subs: McCombe, Nolan, Carson, Straker, Ingham (gk), Godfrey.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3): Bartlett; Duckworth, Harrison, Worley (Bates 8), Carroll; Woods (Walker 82), Magnay, Featherstone; Bingham, Paynter, Fenwick (Oates 62). Subs: Oyenuga, Jones, Smith, Denton (gk).

Attendance: 4,890