THE Pompey Chimes are now likely to sound the death knell for York City’s short-lived stint back in the Football League.

Portsmouth fans will belt out their famous anthem at Bootham Crescent on Tuesday night with the south-coast side still harbouring automatic promotion hopes.

Following a 2-1 defeat at Hartlepool, though, the Minstermen faithful now know that anything less than a victory over the 2008 FA Cup final winners will confirm the club’s relegation.

And even three points might not be enough depending on results at Newport and Stevenage.

City fans made the trip to the Victoria Ground more in hope than expectation but left having witnessed another frustrating 90 minutes with the club’s wretched run without an away win now stretching to 20 games.

Jackie McNamara is still awaiting his first triumph on the team’s travels during a five-and-a-half month stewardship and a sixth straight league defeat on the road equals the worst sequence in more than 28 years since Bobby Saxton’s troubled tenure.

Centre-back Dave Winfield’s harsh, if avoidable, first-half dismissal provided some mitigation for this latest loss but, despite Kyle Cameron’s equaliser seconds before the interval, the visitors never looked like finding the resolve, character and belief that saw so many points won when the team were numerically disadvantaged and fighting for their lives last season.

The players lacked the energy or desire required in such circumstances and succumbed to the inevitable when York-born midfielder Michael Woods grabbed the winning goal after the equally-dangerous Nathan Thomas had earlier opened the scoring from a poorly-defended corner.

Thomas’ effort was the 13th time in 28 matches that the Minstermen have conceded from a flag kick, free kick or throw-in under McNamara, while Cameron’s header was the first set-piece success the team have managed from a corner since the ex-Scotland international took charge in November.

The only other dead-ball goals scored during that period have come from Winfield and Michael Coulson’s direct strike at Barnsley.

Hartlepool had earlier started brightly with Luke James slicing over from 12 yards following a positive forward burst by Thomas, who also went on to fire too high from the edge of the box after Vadaine Oliver had lost possession cheaply on the halfway line.

A rare City foray forward saw Bradley Fewster’s hopeful curling effort comfortably caught by Trevor Carson, while Thomas continued to threaten for the hosts, missing the target with a free kick before forcing the first of a string of impressive saves from Scott Flinders.

On his return to old club Hartlepool, Flinders kept Thomas’ firm effort out at his near post after the winger had charged clear of a poorly-positioned Luke Hendrie through the left channel from Carson’s goal kick.

Thomas was in no mood, however, to pass up a second invitation to score his fourth goal in as many matches on 24 minutes.

A corner from ex-City youth-team midfielder Michael Duckworth, who was released without being offered pro terms by his home-town club, should have been comfortably dealt with, given its flat trajectory.

Instead, it was allowed to bounce inside the visitors’ six-yard box and Thomas had time to collect the ball, take aim and beat an exposed Flinders, Ten minutes later, City were down to ten men when Winfield, cautioned earlier for hauling James to the ground just outside the penalty box, was given his marching orders after sliding in on Thomas close to the corner flag.

A stern warning from referee Seb Stockbridge would have probably sufficed but Winfield was left with his head in his hands after the Tyne and Wear official reached for his pocket again.

It was not the first time the 28-year-old defender has been penalised for diving in, during a season in which he is one of the few Minstermen players, who can, otherwise, be excused for the side’s struggles. Flinders again came to his team’s rescue when his right leg denied Duckworth from eight yards after he had exchanged passes with James.

A hopeful long-range attempt by the same player also called the City net-minder into action.

But, after Fewster made inroads through the left channel before his run was halted close to the byline, Luke Summerfield’s subsequent centre found an unmarked Cameron, who headed powerfully into Carson’s bottom-right corner.

After the restart, Russell Penn’s firm 20-yard volley was caught by Carson before Hartlepool began to make their extra man count.

On the hour, Woods shot straight at Flinders from close to the penalty spot following good work by James, whose diving header flashed wide moments later after Carl Magnay’s right-wing cross.

Flinders went on to save well, low to his left, after Woods had escaped the attentions of Summerfield to unleash a 20-yard half-volley.

The grandson of ex-City favourite Alan Woods was not to be denied on 74 minutes, however, when he headed in off Flinders’ right-hand post from six yards after Magnay had ghosted past left-back Femi Ilesanmi.

In response, Hendrie and Danny Galbraith had half-hearted attempts while Woods and James went close with more convincing edge-of-the-box efforts for Craig Hignett’s men.

Lewis Alessandra went on to drill a low 20-yard shot wide in stoppage time but, while he will return to parent club Rochdale at the end of the season, City are destined to ply their trade in non-League football again just four years on from leaving the Conference behind.

City

STAR MAN Scott Flinders: 8 – forced into another string of impressive saves

Luke Hendrie: 5 – given constant problems by Thomas prior to the winger going off

Dave Winfield: 5 – caught out for first booking and ran risk of a second when he went to ground

Scot Bennett: 7 – ensured side kept defensive discipline following Winfield’s dismissal

Kyle Cameron: 7 – took his goal well and solid at left back before switch to centre

Matty Dixon: 5 – too many stray passes and was given run around by Woods

Russell Penn: 5 – could not impose himself in midfield on return from injury

Luke Summerfield: 5 – lacked industry after City went down to ten men

Lewis Alessandra: 5 – rarely threatened and held on to ball for too long at times

Vadaine Oliver: 5 – struggled to hold ball up before being sacrificed by an angry McNamara

Bradley Fewster: 5 – even before team were down to ten men asked to do too much work in his own half

Substitutes: Femi Ilesanmi 5 – lapses (for Oliver, 37), Danny Galbraith (for Dixon, 75), Derek Riordan (for Fewster, 82).

Subs not used: Michael Ingham, Kenny McEvoy, Josh Carson, Reece Thompson.

Hartlepool

Trevor Carson, Carl Magnay, Matthew Bates, Adam Jackson, Jake Carroll (Jordan Richards, 76), Michael Duckworth (Jack Blackford, 84), Nicky Featherstone, Michael Woods, Nathan Thomas (Rhys Oates, 69), Luke James, Lewis Hawkins. Subs not used: Adam Bartlett, Brad Walker, Rakish Bingham, Josh Laurent.

Hartlepool star man: Woods – energetic and positive throughout

Referee: Seb Stockbridge rating: 6/10 – might have shown leniency with Winfield

Booked: Winfield 19, Dixon 29.

Sent off: Winfield 34. 

Attendance: 4,781 (527 from City)

Shots on target: Hartlepool 11, City 4

Shots off target: Hartlepool 8, City 4

Corners: Hartlepool 7, City 7

Fouls conceded: Hartlepool 7, City 10

Offsides: Hartlepool 1, City 2