TEN-MAN York City went down 2-1 at Hartlepool following Dave Winfield’s first-half red card.

The City vice-captain was sent off for two bookable offences with his team trailing to a Nathan Thomas goal.

Kyle Cameron’s first senior goal levelled the scores on the stroke of half-time but a second-half winner from York-born midfielder Michael Woods all but consigned his home-town club to relegation from the Football League.

Hartlepool made the early running with Luke James slicing over from 12 yards following a burst through the left channel by Thomas.

Thomas also drove too high from the edge of the box after Vadaine Oliver had lost possession for the visitors.

At the other end, Bradley Fewster’s half-hearted, curling 20-yard effort was caught comfortably by Trevor Carson before the hosts went back on the offensive.

Thomas cleared the crossbar with a free kick before escaping the attentions of a badly-positioned Luke Hendrie to run clear through the left channel following Carson’s goal kick.

City keeper Scott Flinders went on to save his blasted effort at the near post.

Thomas was not to be denied on 24 minutes, though, when Michael Duckworth’s left-wing corner was allowed to bounce inside the visitors’ six-yard box.

Having been given time to control the ball, the Pools attacker then blasted a low shot past Flinders.

City were then reduced to ten men when Winfield, who had been cautioned earlier for hauling James to the ground just outside the penalty box, received a second yellow card after sliding in on Thomas close to the corner flag.

It seemed a harsh decision and Craig Hignett’s men might have rubbed salt into the wounds when Duckworth exchanged passes with James but his low eight-yard shot was kept out by Flinders’ right leg.

Former Bootham Crescent apprentice Duckworth also called Flinders into action from 25 yards before the Minstermen levelled in first-half stoppage time.

An unmarked Cameron headed into Carson’s bottom-right corner from eight yards after meeting Luke Summerfield’s left-wing flag kick, which had been won by Fewster.

The on-loan Newcastle defender’s effort represented the first goal City have scored from a corner during Jackie McNamara’s five-and-a-half month reign.

City made a promising start to the second period with Russell Penn’s 20-yard volley caught by Carson and Scot Bennett’s deflected effort from a Summerfield corner drifting over.

The hosts, meanwhile, saw Woods shoot straight at Flinders from 12 yards following good work by James, who then went close with a diving header after Carl Magnay’s right-wing cross.

Woods was also denied after his 20-yard half-volley was well saved, down to his left, by Flinders.

As the home side continued to press, James’ deflected attempt was gathered by Flinders and Matthew Bates blasted wildly off target from 15 yards.

But Woods put his side back in front on 72 minutes, heading in off Flinders’ right-hand post from eight yards after Magnay had ghosted past City left-back Femi Ilesanmi.

In response, half-chances for Hendrie and Danny Galbraith didn’t threaten the score, while Woods and James went nearer with decent edge-of-the-box efforts for the home team. Summerfield’s ambitious long-range attempt also sailed over and Lewis Alessandra drilled a 20-yard shot wide as the travel-sick Minstermen suffered another away-day defeat.