FORMER Hartlepool “Great Escape” hero Scott Fenwick is now determined to help York City pull clear of trouble.

Fenwick scored in a 2-1 victory over Exeter as the north-east outfit completed their unlikely recovery from a 2014/15 Football League relegation dogfight that had left them ten points adrift of safety at the turn of the calendar year.

That win saw Pool beat the drop with a game left to play after Fenwick has also netted important efforts in triumphs over Plymouth and Cheltenham.

The Minstermen go into tonight’s home clash with bottom-of-the-table Southport still six points adrift, meanwhile, in the battle for survival, but Fenwick is planning on history repeating itself and, after his extra-time penalty secured a trip to Wembley at the weekend, wants to play his part in the quest to deliver league security.

He said: “I had the Great Escape season with Hartlepool and managed to score some important goals to help us stay up. I’ve now scored two in my last three games and I believe I can keep chipping in with goals to help out the three lads up front.”

Fenwick has only made 11 starts for City following his summer arrival from Victoria Park and was dropped for the second leg of the FA Trophy semi-final at Lincoln after being substituted at half-time in the first meeting with the Imps.

But, despite his limited outings, Fenwick revealed that City chief Gary Mills, who once showed an interest in signing him for Gateshead prior to his Hartlepool move, has helped him stay positive.

“I’ve been in and out of the starting XI and football is a lot more about the mental side of things than you might think,” the 26-year-old forward reasoned. “I played 45 minutes last Tuesday, but things weren’t working out and I was the one to go off, which was disappointing personally, but the right thing to do, because we went on to win the game.

“Then, you just have to wait for the next opportunity because it’s always the squad that will get you to Wembley and get the points to keep you up and, whilst it’s been a disappointing season for me overall, things have turned around since the manager came in. He’s made a lot of changes but, fortunately, I was one of the players he saw something in that he could work with.

“That’s credit to myself, because I could easily have been out of the door with a lot of the others. The players that have been brought in are of a high standard, but I also feel I can put chances away nine times out of ten.”

That self-belief prompted Fenwick to snatch the ball before referee Ben Toner even pointed to the spot at Sincil Bank and, commenting on his conversion from 12 yards, which could be worth as much as £200,000 to the Minstermen, the former Dunston striker grinned: “I’m a confident lad and I was confident taking it.

“We’ve been practicing penalties in training and I never really miss. I grabbed the ball before anyone else could because, as soon as I saw the linesman’s flag, I knew it would be a penalty.

“A few of the Lincoln players were trying to get into my head, but I just picked my spot, aimed for it and it went in. It was nice to give the fans something to celebrate after they’ve stuck by us all season and it felt good to get the goal that has got my club to Wembley.”

Fenwick will now have the opportunity to become one of a rapidly-diminishing number of players to play at the old and new Wembley stadiums.

He played, scored and won as an under-11 schoolboy for Durham City, alongside fellow future professionals Gary Madine (Bolton) and Carl Magnay (Hartlepool), against Sefton before the world-famous venue was demolished.

Recalling that occasion and other visits, Fenwick revealed: “I went to the old stadium twice to watch Newcastle lose in Cup finals and the only time I got to celebrate was when Rob Lee scored but, to play under the Twin Towers, was a great experience and those memories stick with you.

“I’ve still got all the pictures around my house. At the new stadium, I watched Gateshead in the play-off final, but the only other time I’ve been there was for an Ed Sheeran concert, so it will be great to go there as a player.”

Fenwick’s opportunities under Mills have largely come in a midfield role and, on that switch, he said: “I started out playing in the centre of midfield as a youth-team player, but scored a few goals and was moved forward. I hadn’t played there since, but know I can do a job there, although I prefer playing in a midfield three rather than a two, because of how fast the game is at this level.”