POOLS HAVE MAIN MANI FIRING FOR BOSS KEV

MANI Dieseruvwe returned to action with a bang to help Kevin Phillips start life in the dug-out at Hartlepool United with three points.

Phillips was in the technical area for the first time since taking over after completing a touchline ban he picked up during his final game in charge at South Shields.

And the new head coach had the magic touch to deliver a much-needed Pools victory in front of more than 5,400 fans at the Suit Direct Stadium.

Just a few minutes after introducing substitute Courtney Senior, signed on loan from Barnet on Friday, his low cross ended up with Dieseruvwe finding the net.

The 17-goal striker, who had not played since before Christmas because of injury, then stroked in an 88th minute penalty, after Adam Crookes had brought him down in the box, to seal the points.

York pulled one back in stoppage-time through striker Dipo Akinyemi to at least give the 1,000+ travelling supporters something to cheer but it was too little, too late.

Philllips said: “When you bring in new players, you’re not sure what to expect. I don’t think the commitment or workrate was in doubt, we are a good team, with good players and we need to have that belief and back ourselves.

“When it comes off and you have won a match, naturally you are delighted. So many components to that match that have pleased me so much. We took our chances.

“York are a good side, with good players and I could feel myself going grey in the last six minutes.

“We showed some real good quality. Mani D is a massive threat, he hasn’t played much, and he had to stay on – and got his rewards. He was awesome.”

Hartlepool started brightly and looked hungry to impress with defender Luke Waterfall and winger Otis Khan introduced for full debuts following their moves from Grimsby Town.

But York soon settled and had the better of the first half chances. Will Davies headed a cross wide and Billy Chadwick forced goalkeeper Joel Dixon into a low save.

Minstermen boss Neal Ardley, whose side had not lost in the league since losing to Hartlepool on November 18, said: “I don’t think either team deserved to win the game. They scored with their second attempt on target.

“We found ourselves two down and that wasn’t how the game went. It should have been a draw.

“We made gambling subs and we got counter-attacked. In the long and short the performance was decent we just lacked a bit of quality and we lost the game.

“But it is not good just patting yourself on the back, teams are winning at the bottom. We ned to get to 50 points or it goes to the wire.”