YORK City’s stunning second-half comeback secured a 3-1 victory at fellow Sky Bet League Two strugglers Hartlepool.

Keith Lowe’s brace and a Jake Hyde goal – all scored within a ten-minute period – saw the Minstermen open up a six-point gap on the division’s bottom club.

A Scott Fenwick effort had seen the hosts take a deserved lead going into the interval.

City had an early chance when Hyde called home keeper Scott Flinders into near-post action after 31 seconds, but that proved the visitors’ only on-target effort of a poor first-half showing.

On 18 minutes, former Bootham Crescent youth-team player Michael Duckworth was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when he saw his run into the box checked by Stephane Zubar.

An unmarked Sam Collins also had a near-post chance kicked off the line by Marvin McCoy before Pool forged in front on 27 minutes.

The impressive Duckworth fed Marlon Harewood through the inside-right channel and his low cross into the six-yard box was turned into an inviting net by Fenwick.

Moments later, the same player headed over from three yards and Jonathan Franks and Harewood both missed the target with good chances before the break.

At the other end, all that City could muster was a 20-yard Lewis Montrose attempt that sailed out of the ground and a weak back heel wide from Hyde.

But the Minstermen started the second half with greater purpose and Zubar forced an early save from Josh Carson’s corner.

Another Carson flag kick – won after Scott Flinders saved a Michael Coulson shot – led to the visitors’ equaliser with Lowe finding the home keeper’s bottom right-hand corner from ten yards.

Two minutes later, Lowe claimed his second of the afternoon when, having stayed up for a corner, he headed in at the far post following Russell Penn’s left-wing cross.

On 63 minutes, Hyde then netted in front of a delirious travelling army of City fans, striding into the penalty box before finishing confidently into Flinders’ bottom right-hand corner.

A shell-shocked and demoralised Hartlepool struggled to rouse any form of response, although Penn did clear a stoppage-time Fenwick shot off the line.

City: Cisak, McCoy, Lowe, Zubar, Ilesanmi, Carson, Montrose (Summerfield, 46), Penn, Coulson, Hyde, Fletcher (Meikle, 90). Subs not used: Ingham, McCombe, Halliday, Platt, Jarvis.

Hartlepool: Flinders, Duckworth (Jones, 79), Collins, Harrison, Austin, Richards (Campbell, 67), Walker, Featherstone, Franks, Fenwick, Harewood (Ironside, 63). Subs not used: Maxted, Bates, Woods, Schmeltz.

Attendance: 4,234 (799 from City)