WHAT a difference six games can make.

On April 11, Hartlepool United trudged away from Bootham Crescent on the back of a 1-0 defeat with their Football League future as uncertain as it gets.

A team devoid of leaders, spirit and character lost again and they were a point in front of the relegation zone.

Step forward a few weeks and Pools left the old stadium for the final time – York move to a new ground for next season – celebrating a third win of the season, their new-look squad full of confidence, spirit and effort.

Only three of Saturday’s starting XI began the game in April.

When Pools were losing last time, Billy Paynter was being treated like a child at Carlisle, while Michael Woods was recovering from a broken leg wondering when he would return.

On Saturday, Paynter and Woods scored the goals to earn Pools a first win at York since September 1988.

Paynter has three goals this season in three games. In the previous two seasons he has three combined. It’s amazing what a bit of support and responsibility can do for a player.

“We should have been 3-0 or 4-0 up with the game dead and buried but Billy Paynter scored a world-class goal and that was the difference. It was a wonderful piece of skill and goals change mindsets,’’ said beaten York boss Russ Wilcox.

Sam Collins, in charge of Pools in the continued absence of Ronnie Moore said: “Billy scored a superb goal. If he keeps doing what he is doing.... everything he touches turns to gold. He works hard, never stops and what a goal.

“It's a fantastic goal, at any level. He has so much quality. Everyone expected a big targetman, but he’s so much more than that.

“He’s scoring goals, and leading the team, doing a brilliant job and everyone is following him.’’

He added: “Billy’s strike comes from confidence. We have seen (a lack of confidence) last season, so for our team to have someone so full of it, without any other thought than finding the top corner is something else.

“Some people would be low on confidence and square it. He opens up and has no other thought than curling it into the top corner.’’

This was some scrap and battle for Pools to come through, stretched by the Minstermen’s direct approach and hard-running.

Losing their biggest defender Harry Worley to a reckless lunge by the niggly Reece Thompson didn’t help their cause.

The Minstermen lobbed dead-balls galore into the area, their delivery was good, but they couldn’t beat Adam Barrett, in another inspired display from the keeper.

He made his first save after a minute, going down low to keep out Vadaine Oliver – a familiar first-half theme. Jake Carroll cleared one off the line, Oliver hit one against the underside of the bar and Pools were under the long ball cosh.

The Pools of last season would have crumbled, but not this one.

They created a couple of first-half chances themselves, Rakish Bingham getting away after being played in by Paynter on both occasions. First he was denied by Scott Flinders, then he curled a low finish across the wrong side of the post.

But Pools trailed as York passed to create an opening on the left, a low cross miskicked by Harrison into the path of Thompson to net.

Scott Fenwick could have levelled instantly, but fired straight at Flinders from the edge of the box.

After being given a solid and respectful reaction from the 1,834 away fans, Flinders was beaten by a shot he had no chance of keeping out.

Bingham got away, Paynter dropped deep, took the pass and curled the most beautiful of shots bang into the top corner.

It changed the outlook and Pools won it as Bingham got away on the right, Woods found the energy to get from his own penalty area to the other one. He connected with the low pass, but only a diversion from James Berrett took it past stranded Flinders.

After what he’s been through it would take a cruel man to take the goal away from Woods.

The York-based midfielder admitted: “I’ve been told to get in the box, and I got there from our box for the goal. It’s something we do. The shape we worked on, 3-5-2, the gaffer and Sam said with two up front, it’s about playing in the middle.

“It’s good for me and I like to get forward and hopefully get a few goals.

“I wrongfooted the keeper at the end, my goal no doubt and extra special after what I’ve been through to do it in front of 2,000 Poolies.’’