A point against York City tonight was enough to send Pools Reserves to the top of the Pontins Holidays League table by virtue of goals scored.

With no games for either Sheffield Wednesday or Sheffield United, Pools had the chance to move clear at the top but stuttered to a 1-1 draw against a youthful York outfit.

It looked as though Ian Butterworth's men would win at a canter after they started the game at a high tempo and quickly pushed the hosts on to the back foot.

Despite intense pressure on the City goal it took a mistake by the keeper to allow Pools to go in front when he let Jonny Rowell's long-distance drive slip through his grasp and in to the net.

Other good chances fell to Matty Tymon in pretty one-sided first half, while Michael Rae came very close when his 25-yarder smashed off the bar and out to safety.

However, Pools were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal as York came back in to the game after the break.

A well-worked goal saw City strike back on level terms when a deep cross was nodded back across goal at the far post and Adam Boyes side-footed in to the net.

Pools keeper Scott Allison then had to be alert on a number of occasions as York's youngsters enjoyed a good spell of pressure and went searching for the winner.

But in the end neither team could find a decisive breakthrough and a share of the spoils was possibly the fairest result based the balance of play.

Good news for Pools came in the form of Ben Clark who completed ninety minutes on his first game back following six weeks on the sidelines with a thigh problem.

Full Time: York City 1 Pools 1

Pools: Allison, Deane, Clark, Tait, Haigh, Turnbull, McDermott, Rowell, Robson, Tymon, Rae.

Subs not used: Proudlock, Gott, Scaife, Ellison, Haymer.