WITH Carlisle United again propping up the Football League, York City must be grateful they will not be facing the Cumbrians until the new year.

Three times City have played a team at rock bottom this season and three times they have lost.

But while City were somewhat unfortunate not to get a point from their clash with previously bottom Exeter City last week, there was no late whistle at Hartlepool for the Minstermen to cover up Saturday's cracks.

Certainly, City had every right to curse their lack of luck again as a matter of inches prevented them from enjoying a dream start.

Had Christian Fox's rasping drive inside the first minute not thwacked against the post but hit the back of the net, then no doubt this match would have unfolded very differently.

Such marginal moments can make the difference between victory and defeat, but football is full of ifs and buts.

And true enough, for more than 30 minutes there was little to suggest what was to follow.

In that opening third City, showing three new faces in defence and two in midfield, didn't play all that badly and showed no shortage of discipline in a dour duel.

They were cautious and lacked any real conviction going forward but it was relatively comfortable and trouble-free for Alan Fettis in the City goal.

Having seemingly drawn the sting from their foes that City found themselves 2-0 down then within minutes of the second-half was almost as ludicrous as seven days earlier when City also found themselves 2-0 down to the Grecians having dominated the early proceedings.

However, unlike against Exeter when City came within a whistle of clawing back a point there was no whiff of a fight-back on Saturday and no real sense of injustice at the final whistle.

Indeed, 3-0 at the end probably flattered the Minstermen, who come the finale looked dejected, dispirited and sadly disjointed.

And no matter the fact Lady Luck failed to show, once again it was defensive lapses that cost City dear.

Former Minsterman Mark Tinkler was given far too much room as he met Paul Arnison's cross to head Hartlepool in front on 37 minutes from ten yards.

Still, there was little sense of what was to come and if anything the goal raised the spectre of forcing City's hand.

Having looked to keep a clean sheet first and foremost, City had no choice but to now chase the game.

However, their task was doubled within two minutes of the second-half.

Gordon Watson got the wrong side of Mark Maley and when his first cross was charged down by John Fielding he was able to pick out an unmarked Adam Boyd with his second, who was able to fire home unhindered from six yards.

City enjoyed greater possession thereafter as Hartlepool chose to defend what they'd got.

Michael Proctor's scissor-kick was charged down while Lee Bullock also suffered a similar fate just six yards out then headed wide from six yards.

But there was no snap, crackle or pop in the red ranks. It was all rather laboured. And after briefly threatening, United put the tie firmly beyond City's reach when another error cost City dear.

Mark Robinson's punt forward looked set to roll into the arms of Fettis but Fielding stuck out a boot and directed the ball into the path of a grateful Boyd, who doubled his tally with the simplest of tap-ins.

It could have been worse moments later when Chris Brass's back pass fell short but Fettis did well to save at the feet of Watson before Tommy Widdrington's diving header crashed against an upright.

It was painful and uncomfortable to watch, so much so that the final whistle when it came was, in stark contrast to last week, music to City ears.

Fact file:

City: Fettis 6, Smith 6, Fielding 5 (Mathie 68m, 5), Brass 6, Maley 5, Cooper 6, Bullock 6, Richardson 5 (Salvati 57m, 6), Fox 7, Nogan 7, Proctor 6

Subs, not used: Howarth, Hocking, Stamp

Goals: None

Bookings: None

Sent-off: None

City man of the match: Lee Nogan. Worked as hard as ever.

United: Williams, Arnison, Barron, Lee, Sharp, Robinson, Widdrington, Tinkler (Sweeney 80m), Boyd, Humphreys, Watson

Scorers: Tinkler 37m, Boyd 47m, 64m.

Subs, not used: Hollund, Bass, Easter, Ormerod Goals: Tinkler 37m, Boyd 47m, 64m

Bookings: Tinkler 20m (foul)

Sent-off: None

Attendance: 3,603

Referee: Tony Bates (Stoke)

Half-time: United 1 City 0

Shots on target: United 9 City 4

Corners: United 10 City 10

Fouls committed: United 9 City 2