Pools fell to a fourth consecutive pre season defeat to Blue Square Premier Division outfit York City at Kit Kat Crescent.

The loss may have brought back memories of last pre season's dismal defeat at the hands of the same opposition, but the performance was one of much more energy and defeat was harsh on a Pools side who looked much more sharp than in their earlier fixtures.

While rain greeted Pools for their game with Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, there was glorious sunshine waiting when they emerged on to the immaculate playing surface at Kit Kat Crescent.

Chris Turner named Gary Liddle in the centre of defence in the absence of Ben Clark, while Peter Hartley switched to left-back. Denis Behan partnered Adam Boyd in attack.

It was a bright start to the night for promising Norwegian signing Jon-Andre Frediksen, who won the ball well in midfield before charging enthusiastically at the home defence before seeing his shot charged down.

Turner's men were well on top in the opening exchanges and another half chance presented itself to Leon McSweeney on the edge of the box but his shot was well saved by City keeper Michael Ingham.

Fredriksen was causing problems again on ten minutes when he again broke up play in the middle, exchanged passes with Behan and drove in to the box only to see his low shot dealt with by Ingham.

Liddle had to show his awareness to help City from scoring after the hosts had put together their best attacking move of the match. A deep cross from the right hand side was collected by Andy Ferrell and when his cutback was fired at goal, Michael Rankine collected and swivelled to shoot only for the Pools central defender to block bravely.

A lovely cross-field pass by the impressive Fredriksen found McSweeney and when he slipped a low ball in to Boyd the striker produced a typical piece of magic to turn his man but lost his balance at the crucial time and his shot was easily smothered by Ingham.

Some great link-up play between Boyd and McSweeney set Pools on their way again as City struggled to cope with their slick passing, this time though Fredriksen's powerful shot from twenty yards was just wide of target.

Pools suffered a blow just after the half hour when Sam Collins was forced off through injury and was replaced by trialist Joe Lamploe who slotted in at left-back allowing Hartley to move back inside.

As half time edged closer City began to look more dangerous and perhaps should have taken the lead when Ben Purkiss' powerful cross was aimed in towards Rankine but the big striker flashed his header wide.

The second half began with Pools on top once again and Fredriksen's testing free-kick from the right was headed clear only as far as Antony Sweeney but his ferocious volley flew the wrong side of the post.

And Behan then came close to his first goal in Pools colours when he latched on to McSweeney's deflected cross but saw his lobbed effort go just too high to trouble Ingham.

Then against the run of play, City took the lead when they staged a raid to the edge of the Pools box where the ball was set for half time substitute Levi Mackin to drill low past Scott Flinders from twenty yards.

Martin Foyle's side typically grew in confidence after the goal and had other chances to extend their lead, the closest being Alex Lawless' drive from distance which just went wide of the far post.

As substitutes began to arrive more freely than chances, York went close with a quickly-taken free-kick that flew just wide, while at the other end Pools trialist Billy Greulich fired a shot in to the side-netting. Neil Austin also tried his luck from long-range but his thirty-yard free-kick was collected routinely by Ingham.

While the light dimmed, so did Pools' hopes of rescuing a draw and after threatening on numerous occasions to add a second the Minstermen finally managed to find a way through. A left wing corner found Alan O'Hare in too much space and his powerful header was parried by Flinders only as far as Jamie Jackson who bundled the ball over the line with practically the last kick of the game.

Defeat it may have been, but there will have been plenty of positives to be taken by Chris Turner and Colin West with the big kick-off little over a fortnight away.

Full Time: York City 2 Pools 0

Attendance: 754 (169 Poolies)

York City: Ingham (Mimms 80), Purkiss, Meredith (McWilliams 60), McGurk, Parslow (O'Hare 46), Smith (Mackin 36), Ferrell, Pacquette (Brodie 46), Lawless, Barrett (Russell 72), Rankine Jackson 72).
Sub not used: Sangare.

Pools: Flinders, Austin, Hartley, Collins (Lamploe 32), Liddle, McSweeney, Sweeney (Jones 72), Fredriksen (Rowell 72), Monkhouse (Foley 72), Behan (Greulich 70), Boyd (Mackay 46).
Sub not used: Cook.