City victorious in dramatic goal fest win over rivals Hartlepool to defend top spot

GOALS, goals, goals! York City were victorious in an eight-goal thriller at the LNER Community Stadium in a derby match against Hartlepool United, winning 5-3.

Adam Hinshelwood’s side had welcomed a crowd of 7,654 to the LNER Community Stadium, just three shy of matching their record, for an earlier kick-off against fifth tier rivals Hartlepool.

Those in attendance would have been impressed after Harrison Male’s clearance fell at the feet of Ollie Pearce, who was able to continue his goal record after a composed finish past Brad Young.

City stretched their lead to two prior to half-time, with Alex Hunt producing another unstoppable free-kick, similarly to his one at Barnet.

Hartlepool showed some fight early in the second-half as David Ferguson scored against his former employers.

But after surviving the scare, substitute Ashley Nathaniel-George settled the nerves with a long-ranged effort that nestled into the top left corner.

The three points was all but sealed as Dipo Akinyemi rose highest to power home Hunt’s cross, before Luke Charman netted a consolation strike in the 87th minute.

A penalty was awarded in York’s favour in stoppage-time which Pearce converted, before Mani Dieseruvwe slid home an effort with seconds remaining on the clock to finish a dramatic goal fest in North Yorkshire.

Hartlepool came into the fixture with a fresh look amongst their management team, after 76-year-old Lennie Lawrence had been granted the job on a permanent basis following a stint as interim boss.

Anthony Limbrick had also joined United as Head Coach, with Gavin Skelton and Nicky Featherstone as first-team coaches.

Lawrence had earned the permanent position of manager after replacing sacked boss Darren Sarll, with Lawrence earning five points from his last three games, which included a 2-0 win over Aldershot Town.

That win had propelled the Monkey Hangar’s up to 15th position in the National League, having accumulated 21 points from 16 matches.

York on the other hand were top of the table, one point clear of Forest Green Rovers, having not suffered a defeat in the National League since matchday five in late August.

It was City’s only defeat of the season bar last weekend’s Emirates FA Cup exit to League One’s table-toppers Wycombe Wanderers, in which the Minstermen had provided a good account of themselves, losing just 3-2.

Hinshelwood therefore had a welcome selection headache with Marvin Armstrong unavailable after the match, whilst Cameron John was back in the thoughts of his manager after successfully completing his concussion protocol.

John was slotted back into the starting eleven at left-back, with Ryan Fallowfield dropping to the bench as Joe Felix transitioned back into right-back.

David Ajiboye was also granted a first start following his loan move from Peterborough United in the week, whilst Dan Batty returned to the starting eleven after being rested against Wycombe.

Ashley Nathaniel-George and Luca Thomas both dropped to the bench, which did not include Marvin Armstrong due to fitness concerns.

Hartlepool opted to make just one change from the side that defeated Aldershot, as Nathan Asiimwe returned to parent club Charlton Athletic from his loan, and was replaced in the squad by Luke Charman.

The visitors also had one former City player in their ranks, with Ferguson starting at left-back, having made 95 appearances for the Minstermen from 2017 to 2020.

It had been almost ten years since a York side had beaten Hartlepool, with both teams building something of a rivalry in recent years.

City were keen to abolish that record against their visitors, as Ricky Aguiar latched onto Fagan-Walcott’s long pass, but couldn’t control despite being through on goal.

Ajiboye looked bright on debut, and almost carved open a shooting opportunity after beating multiple Hartlepool challenges in the area, only to be forced away from goal by the crowd of bodies.

Hartlepool would have attempts on goal prior to the opener, as both Luke Charman and Adam Campbell saw strikes drift wide of Male’s goal.

But with York handling some pressure from Hartlepool, it took a very simple manoeuvre for City to garner an advantage.

Ollie Pearce celebrates his opener. (Image: Tom Poole) A clearance from Male was expertly taken down by Pearce, who found himself one-on-one with Brad Young, before unleashing a clinical finish past the goalkeeper.

Hartlepool would enjoy more possession after the opener but struggled to create anything meaningful with it, instead being forced to defend some City pressure.

An inch-perfect pass from Batty was flicked into the path of Sinclair by Aguiar, with the York winger scuffing his strike into the arms of Young.

City would have Male to thank for his first-half contributions, adding to his earlier assist with an outstanding save from close-range to deny a Campbell header.

On the stroke of half-time, the Minstermen added to the deficit as Hunt stepped up for a free-kick after a foul from Tom Parkes on Ajiboye.

Hunt produced another incredible free-kick, similar to his strike against Barnet just two weeks ago, that nestled into Young’s bottom right corner.

It was almost three with half-time approaching after Young scuffed a clearance into Pearce, who spread the ball wide towards Sinclair.

Another effort from his was parried wide by the Hartlepool goalkeeper, making up for his initial error.

York were impressive in the first-half whilst Hartlepool will have needed to show more in the second 45 if they were to salvage anything from the contest.

Their fast start to the second-half was aided in the substitution of City defender Fagan-Walcott, who had picked up an injury.

Charman took advantage of this, beating his marker inside the York area before squaring, where an onrushing Ferguson was able to power a strike past Male.

Hinshelwood’s side would have to resist some relentless pressure from the visitors, as both Mani Dieseruvwe and Joe Grey had efforts kept out by York’s goalkeeper.

Charman had a strike of his own float over the crossbar, before Featherstone couldn’t keep an effort down from a fantastic position on the edge of the box.

With Hartlepool in the ascendancy and looking as if they could grab an equaliser, Hinshelwood looked to his bench for answers.

Nathaniel-George was introduced, and had an immediate impact to put City back two goals ahead.

David Ajiboye made his York City debut. (Image: Tom Poole)

After picking up possession in a central position, the substitute struck a satisfying effort into the top left corner, beating Young and giving York some reassurance.

The three points were all but sealed as Akinyemi won the Minstermen a corner with a deflected strike, with Hunt crossing into the area.

Akinyemi rose highest, powering his header past Young from three-yards out.

Hartlepool did net a consolation strike as City failed to clear their lines.

Charman’s eventual effort towards goal would deflect and loop over a stranded Male, before York would add further breathing room.

A foul on Luca Thomas saw referee John Mulligan point to the spot, allowing Pearce the opportunity for a brace.

He made no mistake with a composed finish past Young.

With time all but up, Hartlepool would register a third of their own to conclude a goal fest at the LNER Community Stadium, with Dieseruvwe sliding home a strike into the bottom left corner.

YORK CITY: MALE 7, FELIX 6, HOWE 8, FAGAN-WALCOTT 7 (CROOKES 6, 46), JOHN 6, BATTY 7 (FALLOWFIELD 6, 60), HUNT 8, AGUIAR 7 (THOMAS, 82), AJIBOYE 7 (NATHANIEL-GEORGE 7, 64), PEARCE 8, SINCLAIR 6 (AKINYEMI 7, 60)

SUBS NOT USED: WATSON, MCLAUGHLIN

GOALS: PEARCE (18, 90+4), HUNT (43), NATHANIEL-GEORGE (67), AKINYEMI (85)

YELLOW CARDS: MALE (89)

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: YOUNG, DODDS, PARKES, SASS-DAVIES, FERGUSON, FEATHERSTONE, SHERON, CAMPBELL (MANCINI, 69), GRAY (MATHURIN, 69), DIESERUVWE, CHARMAN

SUBS NOT USED: SMITH, STEEL, ONARIASE, STEPHENSON, SLOGGETT,

GOALS: FERGUSON (50), CHARMAN (88), DIESERUVWE (90+6)

YELLOW CARDS: PARKES (42), FEATHERSTONE (66)

YORK’S STAR MAN: ALEX HUNT. A goal and an assist for the creative midfielder, who controlled the centre of the park and showed incredible composure on the ball.

REFEREE: JOHN MULLIGAN

ATTENDANCE: 7654 (1447)

SHOTS (ON TARGET): 17 (9) | 20 (8)

CORNERS:  4 | 7

FOULS: 7 | 16

OFFSIDES: 0 | 2