TEN-MAN York City clinched a 1-0 home win over Hartlepool to take a giant step towards Football League safety.

The Minstermen were left reeling by a harsh red card for centre-back Dave Winfield on the stroke of half-time but showed great spirit to collect maximum points following a deflected, 67th-minute Luke Summerfield strike.

It was a result that also moved Russ Wilcox's men nine points clear of the drop zone.

City had earlier started the match brightly with Keith Lowe’s volley forcing Scott Flinders into a third-minute save from Summerfield’s right-wing free kick.

Shaq Coulthirst also curled wide from 15 yards before Winfield diverted a firm Scott Harrison drive away from goal and then booted an edge-of-the-box effort over the David Longhurst Stand.

On 20 minutes, Brad Walker’s 30-yard drive was deflected wide and Coulthirst missed the target from a similar distance for City.

The best two attempts of the half then saw Nicky Featherstone fire narrowly wide of Michael Ingham’s far post after cutting in from the right flank and Jake Hyde call Flinders into action with a firm 25-yard drive.

Aaron Tshibola’s long-range volley also drifted wide before Michael Coulson lifted a glorious 42nd-minute, six-yard chance over after Russell Penn’s blocked shot had fallen to his feet.

Moments later, Winfield seemed to win the ball with a crunching tackle on Walker 20 yards from goal but, to the astonishment of home players and supporters alike, referee Keith Stroud awarded a free kick and then sent the City centre back off.

Featherstone curled the resulting free kick over before Stroud incurred the wrath of a baying Bootham Crescent faithful as he headed for the players’ tunnel at the break. After the break, Jordan Hugill somehow managed to clear Ingham’s crossbar from three yards with the City keeper rooted to his line following Neil Austin’s low right-wing cross. Hugill also failed to convert at the far post from the bafflingly-awarded subsequent corner and Tshibola drove over from 20 yards on 64 minutes.

Three minutes later, City forged in front when Summerfield’s 30-yard drive deflected off the head of Pool defender David Mirfin to wrong foot Flinders.

Hyde went on to test Flinders from 20 yards before Jonathan Franks mustered the visitors’ first shot on target of the game – a tame edge-of-the-box effort comfortably gathered by Ingham.

The City keeper was at full stretch, however, on 77 minutes when he got his fingertips to Franks’ 20 yard shot on the turn.

He also kept a Franks chance out at his near post before Michael Duckworth sliced over with a 12-yard, half-volley and Hugill bobbled a shot wide.

The visitors had all the late pressure but Hugill went on to stab over from eight yards after Ingham had saved low to his right from Tshibola.

Stoppage-time scares followed with Hartlepool having a goal disallowed following an almighty scramble and substitute Scott Fenwick heading over from three yards.

York: 3-4-1-2 Ingham; Lowe, Winfield, McCombe; Halliday, Penn, Summerfield, Zubar; Coulson (Ilesanmi, 68); Hyde, Coulthirst (Platt, 82). Subs not used: Mooney, McCoy, Montrose, Miller, O'Hanlon.

Hartlepool: 5-3-2 Flinders; Austin (Fenwick, 80), Harrison, Mirfin, D Jones, Duckworth; Walker (Hawkins, 70), Featherstone, Tshibola; Hugill, Franks. Subs not used: Harewood, Maxted, Nelson- Addy, Richards, J Jones.

Attendance: 5,424